Whatcom County Tourism Shows Record Growth

12/1/2006

According to a new study released by the Washington State Office of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), visitors to Whatcom County spent a record $396.4 million dollars in 2005. Visitor spending grew by $34.5 million – a 9.5% increase – from 2004. In this same time frame, 260 more tourism-related jobs were created.

The Washington State County Travel Impacts study was conducted by Dean Runyan Associates and compared annual tourism statistics from 1991-2005 (most recent year that data available), including direct travel spending, visitor spending by accommodations type, spending by commodities purchased, industry earnings and employment from travel spending, and tax receipts generated from travel spending.

“The figures show 2005 was a banner year for tourism,” said John Cooper, President and CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. “The county outpaced overall state growth rates in both number of jobs created and total traveler spending. Travelers boosted our economy by staying in our hotels and bed & breakfasts, visiting attractions, eating in restaurants, and shopping in local stores.”

In 2005, Whatcom County saw a 4% increase in travel related jobs for a total of 6,650. During the same year, Washington tourism related job growth was at 2%, with 143,700 jobs. The report documents that tourism related jobs account for about 6% of the total workforce in Whatcom County.

A breakdown of visitors’ expenditures in Whatcom County shows that in 2005 tourists spent:

· $52.3 million on lodging

· $106.2 million on food and beverage services

· $25.6 million in grocery stores

· $84.4 million on ground transportation & motor fuel

· $56.4 million on recreation and entertainment

· $69.1 million on retail sales

· $ 2.4 million on other transportation (air, car rentals, etc.)

Visitors to Whatcom County generate more than $29 million in state and local taxes. The county is ranked fifth of the state’s 39 counties in terms of total visitor spending.