THOUGH Washington State was one of the few expanding US tourist destinations not represented at November’s World Travel Market, it aims to compensate with two trade visits to the UK next year instead of one.
Port of Seattle international tourism manager BJ Stokey said:”We prefer to do very targeted marketing activities with the trade. This is more effective than buying space at a travel show and having to compete with the everyone else.”
According to Stokey, neighbouring states such as Oregon and Alaska, which it shared space with at last year’s WTM, were an important part of the mix of attractions in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington State is also continuing to promote its established Two-Nation Vacation campaign in conjunction with British Columbia in the north as well as highlights of the Oregon Trail and coast to the south. “As part of tour itineraries with other regions, we are featured in around 90 UK tour operators’ programmes in which people stay for three or four days in Washington State,” said Stokey. “Now we want to try and interest operators in putting more product in their brochures to expand length of stay.”
One new product development that Stokey is keen to make operators aware of is the new Amtrak high-speed train service that operates from Eugene through Washington State to Vancouver in BC.
“It’s a spectacular trip up the coast with views of the mountains, national parks, and plenty of wildlife watching opportunities,” said Stokey.
Another major product boost for Washington State is the arrival next year of Norwegian Cruise Line’s series of weekly voyages to Alaska from Seattle. Its newest and biggest ship, the 2,000-passenger Norwegian Sky will operate seven-day cruises from May to September, which Stokey hopes will lead to a combination of Seattle city stays and Washington land packages.
“It is a huge development that will change the face of tourism in the state. Royal Caribbean is also going to test ‘triangle cruises’ of three and four nights between Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver next May,” Stokey said.