Page 41 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 3: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM SECTOR

Runyan's key discoveries are summarized below. Note that the 2014 estimates were preliminary. Secondary
impacts and travel industry Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are provided at the state level only.

The report indicates that travel spending, employment and earnings continue to expand .
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The Oregon travel industry continued its post-recessionary expansion in 2014. By most measures, 2014 was the
strongest year of travel industry growth since the years prior to the 2008-2009 recession.

• Spending. Statewide travel spending, $10.3 • Employment. Total travel-generated

billion, increased by 4.3 percent in current employment in Oregon was 101,100 jobs
dollars and 3.5 percent in real dollars in 2014. This represents a 3.1 percent
(adjusted for inflation) in 2014. In real dollars, increase over 2013, the fourth consecutive
spending has increased by 2.1 percent per year of employment growth following the
year since 2010. steep decline from 2008 to 2010. Travel

In Washington County, travel "destination" employment has increased by 3.0 percent
spending was $540.1 million in 2014 , per year since 2011. Comparatively, jobs
representing a yearly increase since 2010. generated by travel spending in Washington
This compares to 2014 travel spending in County in 2014 were estimated at 7,020,an
Clackamas County of $461.3 million and increase of about 4% from the prior year.
Yamhill County of $98.6 million. • Secondary Impacts. The respending of travel-

• Travel Activity. An estimated 26.8 million generated revenues by businesses and
overnight visitors traveled to Oregon employees in Oregon generates additional
destinations in 2014 (preliminary). This impacts. Statewide In 2014, these secondary

represents a 2.1 percent increase over 2013. impacts were equivalent to 52,500 jobs with
Domestic visitor air arrivals to Oregon (3.2 earnings of $2.2 billion. Most of these jobs
million) increased by 6.2 percent for the year were in various professional and business
(preliminary). Room demand, as measured services.
by STR, Inc.39, increased by 4.0 percent for • Gross Domestic Product. The GDP of the
the year. An estimated 2.7 million overnight travel industry statewide was $4.0 billion in
visitors traveled to Washington County 2014. Overall, the travel industry is one of the
destinations in 2014, accounting for about three largest export-oriented industries in
7.6 million "room nights." This compares rural Oregon counties (the other two being

to about 2.5 million Clackamas County and agriculture/food processing and logging/
about 730,000 Yamhill County vistors, with wood products).
about 7 million and 1.6 million "room nights"
respectively.

38 Runyan, Dean. “Oregon Travel Impacts 1991-2014p.” pdf. April 2015. www.deanrunyan.com_library/ORlmp.pdf
39 A market data and benchmarking service.
WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY 37