Washington County Visitors Association Releases 2008 Travel Impacts Study
April 24th, 2009 by Sylke
Report releases visitor impact statistics for Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard and Forest Grove
BEAVERTON, Ore (April 24, 2009) – Despite a slowing economy, the impact of travel and tourism to Washington County, Ore., remained at 2007 levels. Visitor volume remains unchanged, as reported in the 2008 Washington County Travel Impacts Study. In 2008, 2 million travelers visited Washington County, matching the number of visitors to the county in 2007.
Although visitor volume remained level, the county experienced a slight increase in visitor spending. According to the report, visitors to Washington County spent $514.5 million in direct travel spending, a 2.2-percent increase from the previous year. However, the small growth in visitor spending may be attributable to lodging fuel price increases, rather than an increase in consumption by visitors, the report noted.
The preliminary report, which was prepared and researched by Dean Runyan Associates, a Portland-based economic and marketing research firm, summarizes visitor economic impact to Washington County, Oregon, and its larger cities, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove and Tigard.
Travel impacts to Washington County and each city tracked are based upon distribution of room sales in the county, providing simple estimates of the broader travel impacts in the county.
The following are highlights of the “Washington County Travel Impacts” report* for 2008:
Washington County**
- Number of visitors to Washington County: 2.0 million
- Average expenditure per visitor/per day: $122
- Total direct visitor spending in 2008: $514.5 million
- Total tax revenues paid by visitors: $21.6 million
- Total industry-related employment: 5,100
- Total industry-related employment earnings: $123 million
Beaverton, Oregon:
- Total accommodation sales (room revenue): $19.1 million
- Total visitor spending in 2008: $127 million
- Total tax revenues paid by visitors: $5.3 million
- Total industry-related employment: 1,300
- Total industry-related employment earnings: $30 million
Forest Grove, Oregon:
- Total accommodation sales (room revenue): $2.1 million
- Total visitor spending in 2008: $14 million
- Total tax revenues paid by visitors: $600,000
- Total industry-related employment: 100
- Total industry-related employment earnings: $3 million
Hillsboro, Oregon
- Total accommodation sales (room revenue): $24.0 million
- Total visitor spending in 2008: $160 million
- Total tax revenues paid by visitors: $6.7million
- Total industry-related employment: 1,600
- Total industry-related employment earnings: $38 million
Tigard, Oregon
- Total accommodation sales (room revenue): $18.9 million
- Total visitor spending in 2008: $126 million
- Total tax revenues paid by visitors: $5.3 million
- Total industry-related employment: 1,200
- Total industry-related employment earnings: $30 million
Other areas of the county, including smaller cities, such as Banks and Sherwood, Ore., account for the remaining figures.
Other Washington County cities and towns
- Total accommodation sales (room revenue): $13.1 million
- Total visitor spending in 2008: $87 million
- Total tax revenues paid by visitors: $3.7 million
- Total industry-related employment: 900
- Total industry-related employment earnings: $21 million
*Preliminary estimates for 2008
Source: Dean Runyan Associates, March 2009
**The research procedures assume that the spending patterns of day and overnight visitors are identical to room sales distribution, which, based on other available data, are reasonable conclusions.
About the Washington County Visitors Association
The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) serves the region’s tourism industry by actively promoting Washington County, Oregon, as a destination for conventions, business, and leisure travelers. Washington County is scenically situated between Portland and the Oregon Coast. Spanning 727 square miles, it includes the growing communities of Banks, Beaverton, Cornelius, Durham, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro, King City, North Plains, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood and Wilsonville. Washington County is home to world-class golf, award-winning wineries, an array of outdoor recreation and superb dining and shopping. Its thriving corporate business parks house some of the largest high-tech and industrial companies in the world. For more information on the region, visit www.visitwashingtoncountyoregon.com, or call 503-644-5555, toll-free, 800-537-3149.
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