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Subjects › Economic Development › Developing Local Government Tourism Industry
Updated 08/2010

Developing Local Government Tourism Industry

Contents

About Tourism

Tourism is an important industry in Washington state. It is said to be the fastest growing industry in the country, and it is Washington's third largest industry. This is reflected in the increasing dollars generated for the economy and the heightened interest local communities have in developing a tourist industry. Some general observations about the characteristics of tourism in Washington counties are presented in Dean Runyan Associates' Washington State and County Travel Impacts.

Types of Tourism

Combining different kinds of tourism may produce successful results in creating tourist destinations. Convention business may be combined with offerings for family-oriented recreation facilities. The educational component of cultural attractions may be combined with other recreational or entertainment destinations. The sites and facilities illustrated in this section are presented as a few examples. There are other types of tourism not listed here that might be considered, such as wine tourism. See Related MRSC Pages noted above for MRSC pages on Agricultural Tourism, Cultural and Heritage Tourism, Entertainment (Sports and Recreation Destinations), and Environmental Tourism (Ecotourism - Nature Based Tourism).

Planning for Tourism

Tourism planning requires strong community support. Residents must be willing to cater to tourists and provide settings and experiences that are attractive to the traveling public. The community should have amenities, attractions, and/or destinations around which to build a tourism strategy. Roger Brooks, of Destination Development International, emphasized the importance of catering to visitors in his remarks at a planning conference:

  • Quality is more important than money - but visitors still expect value
  • Convenience is mandatory
  • Curb appeal is critical: it can be a primary drawing card ... or a detractor
  • Quality: accommodations, dining, shopping, attractions
  • Attractive curb appeal, landscaping
  • Pedestrian-oriented activities
  • Things to see and do: are they convenient?
  • Available visitor services

Planning for Tourism - Marketing Plans

Planning for Tourism References

Organizing for Tourism

For smaller communities citizen involvement is the key to successful tourism. As with community visioning for the general planning process, the tourism goals and strategies need to be articulated. The Colorado Community Tourism Action Guide by Sara L. Richardson, lists 10 tips for getting organized.

Tourism Advisory Committees

A few cities have created committees to advise on tourism, while others include this function within the focus of an Economic Development Committee.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committees

If a city with a population over 5,000 wishes to impose a new hotel-motel tax, raise the rate of an existing tax, repeal an exemption from the hotel-motel tax, or change the use of the tax proceeds, it must form a lodging tax advisory committee (see RCW 67.28.1817). Some cities designate the "Tourism Advisory Committee" as the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee or include planning among the duties of the lodging tax advisory committee. Examples listed below:

Contracting for Tourism Services - Sample Agreements

Search MRSC Document Library Database by checking Limit Search to Agreements/Contracts - suggested search terms: tourism, lodging, hotel, chamber of commerce.

Financing Tourism

Tourism Promotion Areas

  • Ch. 35.101 RCW, amended by the Laws of 2009, ch. 442 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - The restriction on forming a tourism promotion area in a county with a population above one million is removed. The legislative authority for such a county is comprised of two or more jurisdictions acting under an interlocal agreement to jointly establish and operate a tourism promotion area. The legislative authority must contract with the Department of Revenue prior to the effective date of the ordinance for administration and collection of the lodging charge. Final Bill Report (Adobe Acrobat Document)
  • Pierce County Tourism Promotion Program
    • Pierce County Resolution No. 2009-32 (Adobe Acrobat Document), 05/2009 - Notice of Intent to Establish a Tourist Promotion Area - Tacoma, DuPont, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Puyallup, Sumner, and unincorporated areas of Pierce County
  • Spokane County Tourism Promotion Area
  • Tri-Cities Tourism Promotion Area - Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco
    • Kennewick Municipal Code Ch. 3.25 - Special Lodging Tax
  • Union Gap
    • Union Gap Resolution No. 907 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Notice of the Intent to Establish a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA)
    • Union Gap Ordinance No. 2707 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Establishes Union Gap Tourism Promotion Area
    • Union Gap Tourism Promotion Area Management Agreement () – Contract with Scott Steinloski to manage all operational and administrative activities for the Union Gap Tourism Promotion Area (UGTPA); term is December 1, 2011 until terminated
  • Yakima County Tourism Promotion Area - Yakima, the Selah, Union Gap, and the unincorporated area of Yakima County
    • Yakima Municipal Code Ch. 5.99 - Tourist Promotion Area

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