Laserfiche WebLink
  <br />   <br />   <br />   <br />3 <br />2: Trends – in tourism volumes, expenditures, and revenues <br /> <br />Kittitas County tourism volumes and expenditures <br /> <br />Tourist volumes and expenditures for each county and statewide <br />were collected from 1991 until 2009 by the Washington State <br />Tourism Commission under a contract with Dean Runyan Associates <br />until the Legislature abolished the Commission in 2009. Tourist <br />information has been collected since 2009 on a county-by-county <br />basis by Dean Runyan Associates under a contract with the <br />privately funded Washington State Tourism Alliance and each <br />participating county including Kittitas County. Following are major <br />findings: <br /> <br />Tourist expenditures 1991-2013 <br />§ From 1991 to 2013, Washington State, tourism spending <br />increased at 4.4% or to $18.6 billion resulting in 4.7% increase in <br />earnings or to $5.0 billion in tourism related employment, and 0.7% <br />in employment or to 159.2 thousand jobs by 2013. <br /> <br />§ By comparison, Kittitas County during the same 1991 to 2013 <br />period increased tourism spending by 4.6% or to $170.2 million <br />resulting in a 4.5% increase in earnings or to $53.1 million in <br />tourism related employment, and -0.7% in employment or to 2,380 <br />jobs by 2013. <br /> <br />Average annual growth rate (AAGR) <br /> Kittitas County Washington State <br />Years Spend Earn Jobs Spend Earn Jobs <br />1991-2013 4.6% 4.5% -0.7% 4.4% 4.7% 0.7% <br />1991-2004 2.9% 3.2% -3.0% 4.7% 5.7% 0.7% <br />2004-2013 7.0% 6.5% 2.8% 4.0% 3.3% 0.8% <br />2013-2014 8.5% 3.6% 9.5% 4.8% 1.8% 2.6% <br />Source: Dean Runyan Associates <br /> <br />§ From 1991-2004, however, Kittitas County lagged behind <br />Washington State averaging 2.9% in average annual growth rate <br />(AAGR) in spending compared to 4.7% in Washington State, 3.2% in <br />earnings compared to 5.7% in Washington State, and -3.0% in <br />employment compared to 0.7% in Washington State. <br /> <br />§ From 2004-2013, however, Kittitas County exceeded <br />Washington State averaging 7.0% in average annual growth rate <br />(AAGR) in spending compared to 4.0% in Washington State, 6.5% in <br />earnings compared to 3.3% in Washington State, and 2.8% in <br />employment compared to 0.8% in Washington State. <br /> <br />§ From 2013-2014, Kittitas County exceeded Washington State <br />significantly averaging 8.5% in average annual growth rate (AAGR) in <br />spending compared to 4.8% in Washington State, 3.6% in earnings <br />compared to 1.8% in Washington State, and 9.5% in employment <br />compared to 2.6% in Washington State. <br /> <br />Destination spending 2006 and 2013 <br />§ In 2006, Kittitas County visitors spent proportionately less in <br />accommodations at 16% compared to 18% in Washington State, more <br />in food service at 33% compared to 27% in Washington State, more <br />in food stores at 11% compared to 8% in Washington State, less in <br />local transportation and gas at 10% compared to 19% in Washington <br />State, more in arts, entertainment, and recreation at 15% compared <br />to 14% in Washington State, and more in retail sales at 16% <br />compared to 15% in Washington State. <br /> <br />Percent of total destination spending <br /> Kittitas County Washington State <br /> 2006 2013 2006 2013 <br />Accommodations 16% 22% 18% 18% <br />Food service 33% 33% 27% 28% <br />Food stores 11% 10% 8% 8% <br />Local transportation/gas 10% 9% 19% 19% <br />Arts, entertainment, rctn 15% 12% 14% 12% <br />Retail sales 16% 14% 15% 14% <br />Total spending (millions) $109 $166 $10,821 $13,410 <br />Source: Dean Runyan Associates <br />