Tourism Impact Quick Stats

Bellingham Whatcom County Stats:

• In 2007, the direct county-wide traveler spending reached $453.7 million — a $31.2 million (7%) increase over 2006. Whatcom County ranks 5^th in the state in terms of visitor spending revenues.
• Food and beverage purchases represent approximately one-third of the direct travel spending for a total of $147.6 million. Visitors also spent $106.5 million in ground transportation and fuel; $62.9 million in accommodations, $72.5 million in retail products; and $60.5 million in arts, entertainment and recreation.
• Those who overnight in hotels and motels represent the largest segment of tourism spending increases. Overnight guests in hotels and motels spent $155.1 million in 2007 – a $15.6 million (10 percent) increase over 2006.
• Visitors who stay in private and public campgrounds account for an additional $1 million in spending over 2006; those staying in vacation homes account for another $1.2 million spending increase over 2006. Guests who stay with family and friends account for another $4.2 million spending increase over 2006.
• The Bellingham-Whatcom County Visitor Industry generated 6,820 jobs in 2007. This represents a one-year job development growth of 5 percent for an increase of 310 jobs. Travel related jobs now account for nearly 6% of all local employment.
• Visitors to Whatcom County contributed $7.1 million in local (city and county) taxes in 2007. They also generated $25.2 million in state tax receipts during the same time period.

Washington State Tourism Stats:

• Since 2002, travel spending throughout Washington State has increased by 7.5 percent annually.
• Travel spending was $14.8 billion in 2007 – a 7.1 percent increase.
• Travel spending generated 149,800 jobs with earnings of $4.2 billion in 2007. Earnings increased by 5.3 percent over 2006 and employment increased by 2.2 percent. Travel-generated employment accounted for 3.8 percent of all jobs in Washington in 2007. Three-fourths of the travel-generated jobs in 2007 were in the Leisure and Hospitality sector.
• Travel spending generated $973 million in state and local taxes in 2007 –a 6.7 percent increase over 2006.
• Total lodging tax collections in Washington State were $132.4 million in 2007 – an 11.7 percent increase over 2006.

Information gathered from: http://www.experiencewa.com/images/pdf/R_WACoImp07final.pdf