On April 10, 2013 the Washington State House of Representatives appropriated $1 million in the 2013-15 biennial budget to fund tourism promotion in Washington State.
Click here to view the letter of appreciation and support that the WTA sent to Representative Ross Hunter and the House Appropriations Committee.
The House of Representative’s budget will be released early this week. WTA needs your help to let them know the importance of our FULLY FUNDED request of $1.275M in bridge funding to underwrite the basics of a marketing program in 2014 and 2015 which would include our website, postage for mailing the
Washington State Visitors’ Guide, operation of a call center, research, and international marketing. The Senate budget released last week only allocates $200,000 for tourism, so it is essential that we ask the House to fully fund our request.
We’ve provided a letter below that you can customize in contacting your legislator, or you can call the legislative hotline and leave a message for your representative. If your representative is a Democrat please ask them to let Rep. Ross Hunter and Rep. Jeff Morris know they support the request, and if your representative is a Republican, ask them to talk to Rep. Gary Alexander to express your support.
Your help is essential in expressing your strong support for this one-time public investment in tourism promotion.
Dear Representative _____________:
In 2011, as a result of legislative action, the state tourism office closed. We are the only state without a statewide tourism marketing program, yet tourism is the fourth largest industry in this state. In 2012, the tourism industry employed over 153,300 people, created $4.7 billion in earnings and generated $16.9 billion in direct visitor spending. Tourism put over $1 billion in state and local tax coffers.
To fill the void, the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) was formed. This private industry organization is providing a minimal marketing effort to maintain a presence and keep our state on the radar screen of tourists.
The WTA is requesting a one-time appropriation of $1.275M for the 2013-15 biennium. The purpose of this request is to provide for the basics of a statewide tourism marketing program until we get a mechanism in place to finance such a program from industry assessments. This appropriation request would allow the WTA to continue, and in some instance put in place, the elements of a statewide marketing program. Funding will go to website development, postage for fulfillment pieces, operation of a call center, research, and international marketing – all of these items are essential to promoting tourism in Washington State.
We ask that you include these requests in your version of the 2013-15 biennial budget. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
To find and contact your legislators:
ail address here
by Heather Graf / KING 5 News
Turn your back on tourism and the entire state will suffer. That’s the message from the Washington Tourism Alliance, who says its funding and its future are now on the chopping block in Olympia.
It was two years ago when budget cuts closed the state tourism office for good. The move made Washington the first state in the country with no state money to promote itself to visitors.
To help fill the void, stakeholders in the tourism industry came together to form the Washington Tourism Alliance.
The WTA is now in charge of running the state tourism website, printing 375,000 copies of the annual visitors guide, and trying to compete with neighboring states.
Executive Direct Louise Stanton-Masten admits, it hasn’t been easy with such limited funding.
“Those of us that live here understand what this state has to offer, and we want to communicate that to potential tourists,” she said.
She said it’s difficult to compete with nearby states, like Montana — whose tourism market budget is drastically higher than Washington’s. For instance, Montana can afford building-size billboards, now popping up all over Seattle, that invite visitors to check out that state.
The WTA’s plan is to find a longterm funding source. In the short term, though, they’ve asked state legislators for about $1.2 million, to get them through the next two years.
Stanton-Masten says they were hopeful when that money was included in Governor Inslee’s proposed budget.
Then, on Wednesday, it was cut from the state senate’s proposed budget.
“The future is a little unknown because of that,” said Stanton-Masten.
Without that $1.2 million in funding, she says the state visitors guide, among other things, is at risk.
“Does it concern me? Yes,” said Kevin Clark, who owns Argosy Cruises in Seattle.
He also serves on the board for WTA, because he believes in what they do and says projects like the visitors guide make a difference to tourism-based businesses like his.
“Anything you can get into the hands of potential visitors, whether its the published tour guide, whether its going online downloading and reading that same content, is important,” he said. “Most people choose to travel based on something they’ve seen or read or heard from a friend.”
Now, the WTA is asking its supporters to contact their legislators, and petition them to restore the WTA funding. No final decisions have been made.
To put things in perspective, consider this: state likes Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and California all have tourism budgets between $10 and $60 million.
Click here to watch the King 5 report.
We need your help! The state Senate released its budget yesterday and did NOT include funding for the WTA or any tourism programs as our Bridge Funding request would have provided. Please contact your state legislators TODAY and ask they include funding in the budget for tourism.
Include in your message:
Tell your lawmakers that
Tourism Matters to Washington State!
Let them also know:
Tourists spend money
Tourists pay taxes
Tourists support jobs
Feel free to expand on these points and explain why funding for tourism matters to you and your community!
* Source: Washington State Travel Impacts, 2012, Washington Tourism Alliance/Dean Runyan Associates.
To find and contact your legislators:
To identify your legislators visit www.leg.wa.gov and select ‘find my district’ tab
Call the legislative hotline at 800-562-6000
Find your legislator’s email address here.
The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) held its third, statewide Tourism Summit on March 12, 2013 in Olympia. More than 200 tourism professionals from around the state gathered at the Summit to learn about the state of our industry, our most recent statewide visitor impact numbers and the WTA’s legislative agenda for short and long-term tourism funding.
An electronic version of the WTA 2013 Summit Power Point Presentation is available by clicking on this link: 2013 WTA Tourism Summit Presentation
Governor Inslee gave an inspiring welcome address and spoke about the importance of the tourism industry on jobs and the economy in Washington State. In his speech, he stated that “we have the best possible tourism magnet in the world.” He indicated his commitment to working with the WTA “to create a vigorous, robust, comprehensive and fairly financed tourism effort in the State of Washington.”
At the Summit the WTA released Washington State travel impact figures which indicate that tourism in Washington State was slightly improved in 2012 over 2011 figures. Thanks to a national economic recovery, U.S. tourism grew at 5.2 percent; however, visitation to Washington State lagged behind the U.S. with just 2.1 percent growth. The state saw some 36.4 million total overnight person trips in 2012, and those visitors spent $16.9 billion, up 4.4 percent over 2011. As with the increase in visitor spending, total local and state tax receipts generated by travel spending increased 4.9 percent to just over $1 billion – the equivalent of $390 for every resident household in Washington State. Travel and tourism supported more than 153,300 jobs in 2012, up 2.7 percent, and generated earnings (payroll) of $4.7 billion.
The morning Tourism Summit was followed by an afternoon of legislative advocacy. Our WTA delegation moved to the Capitol for meetings with their representatives and senators. In these meetings, we discussed with them the importance the tourism industry in Washington State and the positive impact that it has on our economy. We cited our competition from other states, which are spending from $7 million to $61 million in tourism marketing. Each legislator was asked to support our bridge funding request of $1.775 million, which will provide for the basics of a statewide tourism marketing program until we have our long-term funding program in place.
The day concluded with an industry reception at the Governor’s Mansion.
Thanks to the following Signature and Event sponsors for their support of the 3rd Annual Washington Tourism Summit and Day in Olympia: Port of Seattle; The Boeing Company; Spokane Public Facilities District; Washington State Convention Center; R.C. Hedreen Co.; Visit Seattle; Chihuly Garden and Glass; Pepsi; Snohomish County Airport Paine Field; Snohomish County; Squaxin Island Tribe Tourism Department; Tulalip Resort and Casino; Washington State Wine Commission.
Gov. Jay Inslee opened the WTA 3rd Annual Washington Tourism Alliance Summit and Day in Olympiaon March 12, 2013, speaking to over 200 tourism industry representatives at the event. You can watch his presentation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJA3-LtujI8&feature=player_embedded
WTA Offers Website Photo Contest
The Washington Tourism Alliance wants to use your awe-inspiring, excitement-inducing, I-have-to-go-there photos on experiencewa.com. Each entry will have the chance to win free advertising on experiencewa.com in a drawing to be held the last week in March. One lucky winner will receive exclusive placement on the homepage and run of site placement throughout the rest of the site for 1 month for free!
You can submit your photos by email or a zip drive/CD directly to our website developer, Miles. Each photo should be clearly labeled and you will have to sign a photo release form upon submittal. The deadline for submitting photos is Friday, March 22nd.
Photos should be sent to:
Hannah Kelbaugh, Account Director
Miles
1000 S. McCaslin Blvd. #302
Superior, CO 80027
Hannah.Kelbaugh@MilesPartnership.com
Direct: 303.867.8214
Phone: 800.303.9328 ext. 214
www.MilesPartnership.com
News Release
March 12, 2013
State Tourism Summit Takes Place Today in Olympia
Industry gathers, Governor Inslee speaks in support of funding for tourism marketing – just as new state tourism impact numbers are released
SEATTLE – The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) will convene its third, statewide Tourism Summit today in Olympia to present a “state of the industry” and engage tourism stakeholders in discussions of its future funding, marketing programs and legislative agenda.
Governor Inslee will deliver the keynote address to some 200 attendees from destination marketing organizations, hotels, visitor attractions, tour and transportation companies, restaurants, retail establishments, meeting venues and other private and public sector organizations. Last month, the governor released his Working Washington Agenda which references the importance of re-engaging tourism – the state’s fourth largest export industry according to Gross Domestic Product – following the closure of the state tourism office nearly two years ago.
“We are so encouraged to have the support of Governor Inslee at this critical juncture for our industry,” said Louise Stanton-Masten, WTA Executive Director. “We’ve accomplished a great deal in the past two years, but we know that to stay competitive in a very competitive industry we’ll need the support of both the private and public sectors as we go forward.”
Figures released today by WTA indicate that tourism in Washington State improved slightly in 2012, thanks to the national economic recovery which spurred 5.2 percent growth in U.S. tourism. However, visitation to Washington State lagged behind the U.S. with just 2.1 percent growth. The state saw some 36.4 million total overnight person trips in 2012, and those visitors spent $16.9 billion, up 4.4 percent over 2011. As with the increase in visitor spending, total local and state tax receipts generated by travel spending increased 4.9 percent to just over $1 billion – the equivalent of $390 for every resident household in Washington State.
Travel and tourism supported more than 153,300 jobs in 2012, up 2.7 percent, and generated earnings (payroll) of $4.7 billion.
“Despite some incremental growth, we worry that tourism in Washington is not keeping pace,” said Stanton-Masten. “It’s critical that we address our competitive disadvantage to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California – and every other state for that matter – all of which boast dramatically larger tourism marketing budgets and are poised to capture our share of the lucrative tourism market.”
Competing western state tourism budgets range from $10 and $60 million. Comparatively, WTA began work with a budget of some $300,000 when the state tourism office closed and has worked to sustain it by raising incremental funds through membership and corporate sponsorships.
Today’s tourism summit will feature a presentation by the WTA of its current destination marketing activities and discussion of possible solutions for short- and long-term sustainable funding. The tourism summit will be held at the Washington Center for Performing Arts in Olympia from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a tourism industry reception at the Governor’s Mansion in the evening. Registration for both is required. Follow on Twitter at #WTASummit.
Last year, President Obama announced an executive order that will establish a first-ever national strategy for travel and tourism.
Media Contact:
David Blandford
(206) 713-8314/dblandford@visitseattle.org
About the Washington Tourism Alliance
The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) is a 501[c]6 organization established by industry stakeholders with the sole mission of sustaining WashingtonState destination tourism marketing. The WTA procures and administers funds for state destination tourism marketing activities and creates and implements a strategic statewide destination marketing plan. www.watourismalliance.com
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Washington State Missing Out on Tourist Dollars
By Don C. Brunell
President
Association of Washington Business
When we moved from Montana to Olympia 35 years ago, we saw enticing television and magazine ads for our neighboring states, but none for Washington. Fast forward to 2013 and nothing has changed. It was puzzling then, but even more perplexing today, considering the money and jobs at stake.
Tourism in our state is no small potatoes, it is big business. Visitors spent $16.4 billion in 2011 and accounted for 150,000 direct jobs, which is nearly twice Boeing’s workforce in our state. But our state invests no money — nothing, zippo, nada — in statewide tourism promotion.
Now, consider what Florida is doing. Last year, Florida’s legislature increased state funding for VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing organization, by 55 percent to $54 million a year.
It makes financial sense because tourism is Florida’s largest industry, employing more than a million people and accounting for 23 percent of its sales tax collections. In 2011, Florida welcomed 86.5 million visitors, generating $67.2 billion in direct economic impact.
Gov. Rick Scott (R), who pushed the enhanced tourism budget through the legislature, said. “This investment is good for Florida taxpayers because for every dollar spent on tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA generates $177 in tourism spending and $11 in new sales tax collections.”
Other states recognize what tourism adds to their economies, and some have learned the hard way what happens when you don’t sell your state to the traveling public.
For example, when Colorado lost its statewide tourism program in 1993, tourism dropped 38 percent in seven short years. In contrast, Michigan invested $30 million, which resulted in 10,000 new jobs and $43.5 million in new tax revenues.
Over the years, state funding for tourism in Washington has been a hit-and-miss proposition. In good times, legislators toss a few million to the travel industry, but when things get tight, tourism funding is one of the first things on the chopping block.
In 2006, the Legislature allocated a paltry $500,000 and got “SayWA.” It misfired. In short, we got what we paid for and even today, we live with that unfortunate stigma. In 2011, the Legislature defunded our state’s tourism office.
Stacked against the tourism budgets in neighboring Montana ($18 million), Oregon ($12 million), British Columbia ($55 million) and Idaho ($9 million), you can see why slogans like “SayWA” don’t resonate like “Beautiful BC” or “Big Sky Country.”
Over the years, Washington governors and legislatures have treated tourism as a marginal program, whereas most of the other states and provinces view it as essential to their economy. We whack it when budgets are tight. They don’t.
In 2011, when the state jettisoned the tourism office, the Washington Tourism Alliance formed to market Washington. The WTA wants the tourism industry, rather than the government, to fund those high-quality ads you see on the web, in magazines and on television.
To jumpstart the effort, WTA is asking the Legislature for $7.5 million in seed money. According to Kevin Clark, owner of Argosy Cruises in Seattle and WTA chair, “State involvement is necessary as both the short term funding and implementation of the long term self-assessment funding model will need to be approved by the Legislature.”
The WTA is modeled after California’s program where private industry partners fund 98 percent of that state’s tourism promotion.
The WTA notes that Washington families pay $400 less in taxes because of revenue generated from out-of-state visitors. As long as funding a tourism effort generates more revenue than it costs, the decision for legislators is clear: Washington can’t afford not to invest in tourism.
About the Author
Don Brunell is the president of the Association of Washington Business. Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 8,000 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.
Washington Tourism Alliance Launches First Online Fundraiser
Win an All-Inclusive Trip to Bellingham and Friday Harbor
SEATTLE – The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) announced its first online auction at today’s second annual tourism summit. WTA will auction off three weekend packages to Bellingham and the San Juan Islands during the month of April. Each all-inclusive vacation package includes meals, accommodations, and adventures for two people, May 5-7, 2012. All proceeds from this auction support WTA and its mission to advocate, promote, develop and sustain the economic well-being of Washington State’s tourism Industry.
“We’re excited to begin a series of online auction packages that will showcase the diversity of our state while raising funds for the WTA,” said Suzanne Fletcher, WTA Executive Director. “The Bellingham-San Juan package is our first offering.”
Each Bellingham-San Juan Island getaway package is valued at $1,200. They includes an overnight stay and gaming at the Silver Reef Spa-Casino-Hotel; a four-course dinner with wine at Anthony’s Restaurant at Squalicum Harbor; tickets to the Upfront Theatre (live improv theater founded by Ryan Stiles); breakfast at Silver Reef Spa-Casino-Hotel; San Juan Cruises narrated whale watching tour (and lunch) from Bellingham to Friday Harbor; a three-hour zip-lining tour; overnight stay at Friday Harbor House or Lakedale Resort; three course dinner at BLUFF restaurant; breakfast at Friday Harbor House or Lakedale Resort; ferry ride via Washington State Ferry to Anacortes; and a Bellair shuttle back to Bellingham. Winners will also receive a special gift basket of locally made food and sundries (including items from Birchwood Botanicals, Chocolate Necessities, Hammerhead Whole Bean Coffee, and Scratch Desserts). More details can be found here: www.biddingforgood.com/wta.
WTA has developed this mutually beneficial online auction program to support the Washington tourism industry while highlighting destinations across the state. This program includes vacation packages that highlight accommodations, attractions, dining services and experiences that demonstrate the unique qualities of respective regions. The packages will be auctioned off online to the highest bidder to support WTA. During the auction period, each region and its package elements will be highlighted on BiddingforGood.com, which boasts an audience of some 260,000 shoppers worldwide. In addition, the packages will be promoted through WTA’s social media resources, including WTA’s website, Facebook page and Twitter feed, as well as e-mailed to WTA’s mailing list.
For more information, contact Meagan McGuire at (206) 768-7104 or via email at MMcGuire@museumofflight.org.
About the Washington Tourism Alliance
The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) is a 501[c]6 organization established by industry stakeholders with the sole mission of sustaining Washington State destination tourism marketing. The WTA procures and administers funds for state destination tourism marketing activities and creates and implements a strategic statewide destination marketing plan. www.watourismalliance.com.
