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Courtesy U.S. Travel Association |
Hotels and meeting facilities, attractions, restaurants, cultural institutions, tour companies and transportation providers are among the local businesses greatly impacted by travel to Washington State. The tourism industry here employs 149,900 people, generates total direct visitor spending of $15.8 billion and generates $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. touches the community in countless other ways.
Nationwide, the U.S. travel industry directly employees 7.5 million people, generates payroll of $178 billion and tax revenues of about $110 billion. The U.S. Travel Association ranks travel fifth among 20 major private industry sectors. Visitors to the U.S. spent more here than U.S. residents traveling abroad, creating a positive balance of trade of $8.3 billion for the national economy. Travel expenditures within the United States total $740 billion.
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| March 9, Tourism Day in Olympia: more than 250 tourism professionals from across Washington State gathered in the capitol inaugurate a new, statewide tourism advocacy campaign. More photos >> |
IMPACT OF TOURISM
For more facts and trivia on the impact of the tourism industry, click here >>
WHY TOURISM MATTERS CAMPAIGN
Why Tourism Matters was developed and is trademarked by Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB). responsible for competitively marketing Seattle as a travel destination. SCVB operates the campaign on behalf of Washington State’s core of private sector destination marketing organizations competitively market their respective cities, counties and regions to leisure travelers and meeting and convention groups. Largely non-profit economic development agencies, these convention and visitor bureaus and chambers of commerce work in tandem with the Washington State Tourism Commission and Washington State Tourism office to jointly position the state as a premier travel destination. Direct visitor spending benefits hotels, retailers, restaurants, attractions, transportation services and other businesses, and supports jobs in throughout the state.
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| Courtesy U.S. Travel Association |
For more information, visit www.visitseattle.org/bureau
TELL YOUR ELECTED LEADERS WHY TOURISM MATTERS
Customize a letter for submission to your state legislator, county executive or mayor. Click here >>
TOURISM AMBASSADORS
Frontline tourism industry professionals throughout Washington State tell their stories.
Click here >>
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