Page 60 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 3: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM SECTOR

Rural Tourism Insights from "Travel Oregon"– Oregon's Tourism Commission
Kristen Dahl, Travel Oregon’s director of rural tourism development in Oregon, weighed in on the
status of the rural tourism industry both statewide and in Washington County .
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Statewide
Dahl predicts a bright future for rural Oregon Communities, in part because rural tourism and the
economic impact it brings are on the rise. She says this uptick may be a combined result of more
people coming to Oregon and better promotion of rural tourism. According to Dahl, related legislative
changes at the state level are also a positive step.

Dahl notes certain rural tourism niches, trends, and visitor preferences to include:

• Defined scenic/tourism routes for motorists and bicyclists, preferably with rest stops along
the way;
• Opportunities to explore cultural heritage and local history that give an area its sense of place;

• First-hand farm experiences on agricultural sites that allow visitors to meet the grower, see
where their food comes from, and learn how it is produced; and

• Culinary experiences using local fare.

Washington County

Dahl points out festivals, wine-tasting rooms, and farm stands
as attractive features of Washington County’s existing rural
tourism sector, and suggests that farm stays and food/wine
tastings should be emphasized. She notes that high traffic
volumes to and from the coast boost opportunity for farms and
rural businesses near Highways 26 and 99 to attract travelers.

Should the County wish to further rural tourism, Dahl
encourages rural tourism operators, organizations, and County
government to work closely together. Along the same line, she
references Travel Oregon’s Rural Tourism Studio as a tool for

collaborative growth that engages partners in a two-year rural
tourism development process.

Sign at Plum Hill Vineyards. Photo courtesy of the
Washington County Visitors Association
53 Interview of Kristen Dahl of Travel Oregon by Mary Stewart, early 2015.

56 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY