Port Commissioner John Creighton on the Importance of Tourism to Seattle

It's easy to downplay the role that tourism plays in the economy of Seattle. After all, the city is best known for its bustling port, and it has achieved worldwide fame as the home of major businesses such as Amazon and Starbucks. It's not surprising that people think of Seattle as a place where companies come to set up shop, not a place where tourists spend their hard-earned money. In reality, according to Port Commissioner John Creighton, Seattle is heavily dependent on the tourism industry, and without those tourist dollars, the Port wouldn't be able to achieve the ambitious goals that it would like to meet in the coming years.

According to statistics published by the Seattle Convention and Visitor's Bureau, tourism ranks fourth in gross domestic product produced in Washington. In addition, the tourism industry supports almost 160,000 jobs, and in a tough economy, those jobs would be difficult to replicate or do without. Each tourist who comes to the city spends money on hotels, on food, on entertainment and on souvenirs. Each tourist also goes back home with stories of how amazing Seattle is and how terrific the trip was. It's easy to see why these tourists should be respected, coddled and encouraged to come back again. With each visit, these tourists have the opportunity to make Seattle's future just a bit brighter.

According to a Port of Seattle press release, the Port Commission approved a $50,000 investment in the Washington Tourism Alliance, a nonprofit established by the local tourism industry to promote Washington as the ultimate travel and vacation destination. With this investment, the Port hopes to help the Alliance to bring more tourists to the area. The funds these tourists bring with them can be used to create more jobs in Seattle, and help the city to meet its goals for sustainability and innovation. Find out more about the organization here.