TagTourism(25)

The Washington Responsible Travel Handbook Companion Workbook, published in 2023 by the Port of Seattle in partnership with the Travel Foundation and Tourism Cares, is a practical guide to help tourism organizations plan and implement responsible, sustainable travel practices across Washington State. It includes reflection questions, worksheets, and action-planning tools covering topics such as diversity and inclusion, impact management, product development, and responsible marketing. The workbook is designed to support destination managers and community stakeholders in building a more equitable and environmentally conscious tourism sector.

The City of Burien's Economic Development program supports local businesses through microenterprise programs, small business grants, maker spaces, and a Digital Main Street Program. The city also promotes visitor attraction and community engagement via social media channels, a business e-newsletter, citywide business surveys, and tourism videos. Several initiatives are funded in part by the Port of Seattle.

The Port of Seattle's Tourism Marketing Grant Program, presented at the December 11, 2018 commission meeting, outlines the fourth year of a partnership initiative aimed at advancing statewide tourism and promoting use of Port facilities across Washington. The program has built partnerships with 26 organizations spanning King County, Eastern Washington, the Olympic Peninsula, and Western Washington, generating visitor interest and travel throughout the state. Smaller tourism organizations have been noted as particularly appreciative of the program's support.

The Port of Seattle Commission is requesting authorization for its 2019 Tourism Marketing Support Program, a grant initiative now in its fourth year that distributes up to $200,000 in King County tax levy funds to local destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits to promote tourism across Washington State. Grants of up to $10,000 each require a two-to-one match from recipients and must be used for advertising, public relations, digital marketing, trade shows, or familiarization tours aimed at attracting out-of-state visitors. Over its first three years, the program funded 57 projects and generated approximately $700,000 in additional tourism marketing statewide.

The Port of Seattle's 2018 Tourism Marketing Support Program awarded grants totaling $200,000 to 26 organizations across Washington State to promote local tourism destinations. Recipients, including visitor bureaus, arts councils, and cultural organizations, received up to $10,000 each in matching funds for projects such as digital marketing campaigns, familiarization tours, and international outreach. The program required a two-to-one match, meaning for every Port dollar awarded, the recipient contributed fifty cents.

The Port of Seattle's 2018 Tourism Marketing Support Program allocated $200,000 to promote Washington state as a leading tourism destination, selecting 26 recipients from 45 applicants who had collectively requested $393,500 in funding. The selected projects, which include 22 culture, eco, and nature tourism initiatives, cover a range of marketing activities such as trade shows, digital media, international marketing, and event promotion. Recipients also contributed $148,008 in matching funds, demonstrating broad partnership across the state's travel and visitor industry.