New effort to promote Washington tourism

A new group has come forward to do what Washington can’t afford to do – promote the state to tourists and businesses.

Tourism is the fourth-largest industry in Washington, worth about $15 billion and generating $1 billion in tax revenue in 2010, according to the state. But Washington is now the only state in the nation with no state-funded tourism office.

The Governor saved $1.8 million by closing its tourism office at the end of June. The Washington budget had been $7 million the previous year and up to $10 million several years before that, employing six people. To put those numbers in some perspective, British Columbia will spend about $50 million on tourism this year. California, which also has severe budget problems, plans to spend about as much. Even Michigan spends about $25 million on tourism.

Washington has a website up to promote itself, ExperienceWA.com, and it has a 152-page travel planner with current information, find an online version here. I think both tourism tools are good, but they don’t impress a Seattle entrepreneur who calls the state’s website “informational, but sad and pathetic.”

“I’m a think-big-and-make-things-happen kind of gal,” says Charyn Pfeuffer, a Seattle travel journalist who is leading the effort to create a new website and media platform to connect the best of Washington with its travelers.

“I’m not proposing a $1.8 million marketing campaign to woo big business, nor am I trying to replace the tourism board,” she says. “My interest in Washington tourism is based in my belief Washington State is the greatest place to live, play and explore in the U.S. and I want to share its diversity with visitors and local weekend warriors via an engaging new resource.”

She’s seeking funding through kickstarter for GoWAState.com to be launched in early 2012. It’ll be an interactive travel guide created and curated by experts, travelers, member-run chambers and other organizations. She’s hoping to raise $50,000 through donations to get the website started. Once it’s up, the site would be funded through paid advertisements, sponsored giveaways of products, and other deals.

“When I saw the direction the state’s tourism and marketing was taking in light of the recent budget cuts, I decided I didn’t want more of the same corporate/industry stakeholder driven meh,” says Pfeuffer. “I’m sick and tired of small businesses not getting exposure because they may not have the budget to advertise, join a chamber of commerce or be part of a tourism board. As a result, the same players are always the press darlings and so many uniquely Washington State stories and experiences are left untold.”

Summer in Seattle. This sunless photo might not boost Washington’s tourism efforts.