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TACOMA AND PIERCE COUNTY
where ART + NATURE meet
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Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitors Bureau
1119 Pacific Ave., Suite 1400,
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 627-2836 / Fax (253) 627-8783
www.traveltacoma.com
State of the Industry
As the visitor brand suggests, the communities of Pierce County have successfully combined their rare combination of natural and cultural attractions. The glaciers of Mount Rainier and glass of Tacoma. The downtown art walk of Puyallup and Sumner, the rhubarb pie capital of the world. Fife's performing arts center and parks, Lakewood's Playhouse and Lakewold Gardens.
Arts are a growing component of the tourism industry in Tacoma and Pierce County. Just as importantly, tourism supports the arts, which not only helps the community sustainably reinvest in itself, but also means that residents don't have to carry the entire burden of cost to support the arts.
Tacoma's downtown Museum District, anchored by the Museum of Glass (and adjoining Chihuly Bridge of Glass), Tacoma Art Museum and Washington State History Museum has transformed the region into a mecca for cultural tourists. Though much of the Tacoma's arts infrastructure has been born of philanthropy and the support of the community, it is sustained in large part by increasing numbers of tourists. Moreover, businesses are starting to take notice of this attractive environment.
Cultural- and ecotourism are part of the allure for meeting planners. The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center is a state-of-the-art "green" building with more than 118,000 square feet of meeting space, and properties like Hotel Murano (recently ranked #6 in the US by Condé Nast Traveler) and the iconic Tacoma Dome routinely fill their space with events that draw large groups. And increasingly, visitors are coming not just by car or by plane, but by rail and by boat. In fact, Tacoma's own Dock Street Marina was just given the prestigious Marina of the Year Award by Marina Dock Age Magazine, signaling a shift in public perception of Tacoma as a world-class destination.
Tourism by the Numbers
Pierce County
Visitor Expenditures $953.1 million
Local Taxes Paid by Visitors $20 million local
State Taxes Paid by Visitors $52.1 million state
Jobs Generated by Tourism 11,270
Source:
Washington State Travel Impacts, 1991-2009p — Washington State Department of Commerce Tourism Office/Dean Runyan Associates
Tourism Trends
Visitors to Pierce County seek authentic experiences that are unique and diverse. They seek adventures that creatively blend urban sophistication and outdoor exploration, making Pierce County the ideal destination. Geotourists explore the natural wonders of Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound's open waters. Art aficionados delight in the wide variety of museums, performing arts and public art displayed throughout the region. Echo-boomers, the nation's largest generation, embrace their "Do Everything Spirit" while enjoying an abundance of cultural and historic activities, adventure, relaxation, shopping, dining and spas.
Tourism Industry Issues
The tourism industry significantly contributes to Tacoma-Pierce County's economic development. It generates thousands of jobs, delivers visitor spending to the region and enhances the quality of life for local residents. Infrastructure development combined with continued and increased funding for destination marketing is critical to the maintenance and growth of the tourism industry. Pierce County requires additional hotels and improved transportation to meet the needs of regional visitors. Furthermore, it's essential that destination marketing organizations are adequately funded to promote the region and drive visitor spending dollars to the local economy.
Finally, strategic public/private partnerships with strong leadership and collaboration are required to sustain and enhance the tourism industry for both Pierce County and the State of Washington.
Washington State Travel Impacts, 1991-2008p, which prepared by Dean Runyan Associates for the Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development Tourism Office, provides more detailed tourism data by county. To learn more about the state's impact on travel in Washington State, download this pdf >>
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For more information about Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, click here >>
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