11/04/2005: "Visitors Spend Record $113.5 Million In SJ County"

Visitors, tourists, or by any other name, for better or for worse, there is no denying they are a major contributor (15.1%) to the economy of San Juan County. According to a study released by CTED (Washington State Office of Community, Trade and Economic Development), visitors to San Juan County supported the local economy by spending a record amount in 2004. The 113.5 million is a $7.3 million increase in visitor spending from 2003, and represents an overall increase of 6.1% from 1991 to 2004. The state total increase for the same period was 4.2% The study was conducted by Dean Runyan Associates, specialists in economic and market research for travel and recreation, with public and private sector projects throughout the U.S.

In 2004, the San Juan Islands' economy benefited from visitor spending in the following areas:

• $35.5 million on food and beverage services
• $28.8 million on lodging
• $19.1 million on the arts, entertainment, and recreation
• $17.5 million on retail sales
• $12.5 million on other categories combined (food stores, ground transportation, gas)

The Runyan research study also includes these economic impacts for San Juan County:

• Industry earnings generated by travel spending resulted in $38.7 million.
• Travel spending generated 1,840 full and part-time local jobs.

Tourism dollars are "new" dollars contributed to local communities, unlike "recycled" dollars between residents. In 2004, visitors' "new" dollars generated $7.7 million in total direct tax receipts to San Juan County, reducing the need for higher taxation of residents.

"This increase is great news, but it is important to note that competition for tourism dollars is an increasingly challenging arena within economic development" San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau Executive Director Deborah Hopkins said. "An additional responsibility for us locally is to further a stewardship message while promoting responsible tourism to these islands."

In addition to dollars spent for activities and experiences, retail goods, meals, and lodging, etc. visitors also pay an additional percentage of their accommodations bill in a tax. In San Juan County, the "original" 2% hotel-motel tax supports tourism facilities including the community theaters, historical museums, county parks and county fair. A second "special" 2% tax is utilized by the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau for marketing, and a portion is contracted to the Chambers of Commerce on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands to provide walk-in visitor information centers. In doing so, the second tax invested in marketing "grows" the first tax, resulting in additional revenue support of local community resources benefiting residents and visitors alike. County reports indicate a 3% increase in hotel-motel tax revenue through August of this year over the prior year at the same time.

The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau is the county-contracted non-profit economic development agency established to provide destination marketing in order to enhance local economic prosperity. Its mission promotes respect for the Islands' unique and diverse ecosystems, environments, lifestyles and cultures. Research has shown that every $1 invested in tourism marketing by Washington State results in an average of $39 spent by visitors.