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 Outlook on Tourism
A Message from Don Welsh, President & CEO, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau
Dear Tourism Supporter,
During the recent Washington State legislative session, $65 million in hotel/motel tax dollars were re-allocated from Washington State Convention & Trade Center (WSCTC) funds in order to balance the state budget and fund low income housing.
The sudden decision by our elected leaders has been met with disbelief, confusion, anger and, finally, the necessary acceptance in the tourism industry.
While there is some historical use of center funds for non-tourism needs in the past, no such re-allocation has been as large as this one. The proposal originated in House discussions regarding funding for low income housing needs across the state, then moved to the Senate for approval and finally to the governor's Office of Financial Management for transfer. The state's supplemental operating budget called for two transfers of $57 million and $8 million, respectively, from a combination of WSCTC's capital reserve and operating budget.
This has been a bitter pill for members of our region's tourism industry to swallow. However, it really does affirm our need to communicate more proactively with our lawmakers and elected officials on the importance of our industry and the significant revenue and taxes it generates.
Our message is critical. Tourism is a growth industry and a vital export product for Washington State. In this time of economic uncertainty, elected leaders need to understand tourism's economic importance and they must support its growth. Tourism's continued success requires continued investment from both the private and public sectors.
To help achieve this objective, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau announces its newest communication initiative, Why Tourism Matters. This ongoing public education campaign will convey the importance of the tourism industry to government and business leaders and their constituencies throughout the state.
However, we need your voice in order to be successful. During the 25th Annual National Tourism Week, May 10-18, we ask you to communicate the importance of our industry to your elected leaders. Please call or write to your state representative, county elected officials, city council members and mayors. Visit our new website, www.whytourismmatters.com for downloadable letter templates, tourism statistics, talking points and contact information for elected officials.
I hope you'll draw inspiration from this special issue of Seattle Metronatural News, which features interviews with tourism ambassadors throughout our industry, each conveying in their own words Why Tourism Matters.
Please understand that your voice and your vote are critical at this juncture in our industry's development.
 Sincerely,
www.whytourismmatters.com
Frontline tourism professionals work directly with visitors to ensure that their experiences in Seattle and King County are memorable and encourage return visits. Some of the industry's tourism ambassadors are profiled here and on SCVB's brand new industry web site, www.whytourismmatters.com >>
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