Last year, Washington became the only state to close its state tourism office. As state Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said at the time, “When you’re taking kids off health care and raising tuition, you have to make some tough decisions.” Our editorial opinion that summer was one of many regrettable-but-necessary stances we’ve taken during the nation’s worst economic catastrophe in seven decades.But we also saw the loss of the state tourism office (at the time, funded to the tune of about $2 million, previously by as much as $7 million) as a call to action. Our editorial in 2011 opined that “we’re embarking on a whole new system of privately funded tourism promotion, and for taxpayers in an economic crisis, that could be a great conversion.”
Much of the call to action has been answered by statewide private-sector groups such as the Washington Tourism Alliance. Local groups, too, have responded, and the Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office is certainly doing its part. Recently the local office unveiled its new website — Visit Vancouver USA — and there are several things we like about the online resource.
First, note the spiffy appearance. Once potential tourists or convention planners hit this website, they’ll find an alluring front page with a bold announcement: “No other city in the Pacific Northwest offers such a combination of colorful history, recreational activities, charming shops, extraordinary eateries, a burgeoning wine region, affordable attractions and charming hospitality.”
Hyperbole? Perhaps a little, but the overall menu of local attractions is an attention-getter, and as for any doubters, well, come visit and fact-check the claims for yourself.