Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2018)
9A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018 Oregon: Foreign travelers tend to stay longer, spend differently Continued from Page 1A “Part of the big draw for international visitors is who we are. They hear about the beauty of this place, the amazing culi- nary scene, our fresh sea- food, what’s being done with our wine and craft beer indus- tries,” said Todd Davidson, the CEO of Travel Oregon, the state agency that promotes tourism. “What we’re doing in Ore- gon is working. Yes, we’ve been more aggressive in the international market than ever before, but we couldn’t do it without all of our Oregon busi- nesses and partners.” Shifting demographics There are many factors that contribute to the boom of for- eign visitors. Over the past few years, the number of international flights into Portland has opened the door to countries that other- wise would have never had a convenient way to visit the Pacific Northwest. Partnerships with national marketing orga- nizations like Brand USA have allowed the state to “penetrate markets they wouldn’t have even dreamed of a decade ago,” Davidson said. But one of the biggest changes to the Oregon tourism landscape has been a significant shift in the number of visitors from Asian countries. Canada has historically accounted for about half of all international tourists and contributes to about one quarter of all international spending. In 2017, travelers from coun- tries like China, South Korea and Japan comprised a quarter of all of Oregon’s international visitors, but brought in more than $241 million in travel reve- nue — more than 43 percent of all international spending. Part of this is due to geogra- phy. A robust Asian-Canadian population in Vancouver, Brit- ish Columbia, acts as a cultural gateway to the Pacific North- west. But Davidson said the uptick is also due in large part to recent changes in what types of travel visas Chinese citizens can get to come to the United Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian ABOVE: Matthew Gates and his son, Owen, of Tacoma, Washington, take in one of the many tourist attractions in Seaside. BELOW: Visitors to Seaside take in the sights. States. Before 2014, Chinese travelers could only apply for a one-year travel visa. Since the 10-year visa was approved, vis- itors from China have grown 26 percent, from about 53,000 vis- itors to 68,000 in three years, and have spent 31 percent more in tourism-related dollars. The longer visa has encour- aged more travel to the Pacific Northwest, in particular, David- son said. “We know (Oregon) is not necessarily the first destination that comes to mind when peo- ple want to come to the U.S. They are going for other desti- nations, like California or Flor- ida, they’ve seen in TV or mov- ies,” Davidson said. “It’s on the second or third trip to the U.S. we see people seeking out the Pacific Northwest, and on a one-year visa, how many times are you going to go to the U.S. in one year?” Changes ahead Part of the reason visitors from countries like China spend more in the local economy is because foreign travelers tend to stay longer and spend differ- ently than domestic or Cana- dian travelers. “It’s important to invest on that return,” Davidson said. Family Owned and Operated SHEEP LOCAL Changes are on the horizon for the local tourism scene as communities attempt to accom- modate the booming Asian mar- ket. This year, Travel Oregon has set up a global impact team — consultants who give advice to communities on how to bet- ter serve Chinese guests, from more signs and hotel informa- tion in their native language to providing more food options. “Our level of authentic- ity should never change. We’re Oregon, it’s who we are,” Davidson said. “But are there things we can do to make them feel more welcome? Yes, of course.” THE SLEEP YOU NEED GUARANTEED Warrenton • 503-861-6085 Located next to Big 5 and Fred Meyer HOURS: MON-FRI 10-7 SAT 10-6; SUN 11-5 Peter Roscoe Memorial Month MARKDOWNS May 1 - June 4 st th H H H H Copperwood Copperwood H Twin Mattress & Box Spring H Twin Mattress H $ 94 H $ 194 ea. H ea. H H H H Copperwood Queen Mattress $ 197 $ 99 ea. H H ea. H Add a queen box spring for Firm or Plush Queen Mattress $ 297 $ 99 ea. H H ea. H H H “Peter is an idea man with a special knack for getting other people motivated to also get involved” - Skip Hauke Astoria H Kettering H Residence Resume Responsibility H Add a queen box spring for H H H H $500 savings applies only to king size mattress sets with a king size foundation or two twin XL foundations. Offer available only on qualified purchases made at participating retailers while supplies last. Product availability, pricing and offer dates may vary by retail The Best Buy Seal and other Licensed materials are registered certification marks and trademarks of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license. For award information, visit ConumersDigest. com. Although every precaution is taken, errors in prices and/or specifications may occur in print. We reserve the right to correct any such errors. Circulars may not be used with any other promotion. See store for details. H For Clatsop County Commission District 3 H H Special Edition H Plush Queen Mattress H $ H King Mattress 397 H H $ 497 8 Oregon’s Largest H H Retailer LARGEST MATTRESS SELECTION • QUALITY COMFORT & SUPPORT • LOW PRICE GUARANTEE free Adjustable Motion Base with the purchase of a OLIVERTON Firm, Plush or Pillow Top Set NOW $999 Value FREE 8 $ ONLY SHEEP LOCAL 999 COMPARE AT $ “If this was an appointed position, there couldn’t be a more ideal candidate” - Former Mayor Willis VanDusen “Peter has been a great neighbor and friend. He listens to both sides of an issue with respect and makes his decisions based on facts.” - Phyllis Cook, Former Women’s Resource Center Board Member “I urge voters of District 3 of the Clatsop County commission to cast their ballot for Peter Roscoe.” - Chris Connaway Premium Gel Memory Foam Queen Mattress PLUS Adjustable Foundation Sizes: Queen, Full, Twin XL or Twin “Whether you are a logger, fisherman, public employee, tourist, business owner, retiree, or whatever, Peter will do his best to find a balance that is fair to everyone” - Jim Wells Knappa Salmon For All President 2199 99 Premium Gel Memory Foam Queen Size Mattress Only $ 397 King Size Mattress Only $ 697 www.americasmattress.com 8 convenient Oregon locations NEWPORT | LINCOLN CITY | WARRENTON | COOS BAY | FLORENCE | TILLAMOOK | ALBANY | LEBANON Paid For By Committee to elect Peter Roscoe
