Comments on: Pierce County Tourism Cost Too Much, So Visit Astoria Oregon http://washingtonstateopinion.com/?p=1778 Just thinking and using a WordPress weblog for rambled thoughts Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:03:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Zak Nelson http://washingtonstateopinion.com/?p=1778&cpage=1#comment-49 Zak Nelson Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:03:46 +0000 http://washingtonstateopinion.com/?p=1778#comment-49 You're right: nobody wants new taxes, and the proposed Tourism Promotion Area doesn't include any. This is not a tax; local residents pay nothing. It's a surcharge levied by hotels in the Area on occupied room nights, ranging from $0.50 to $1.50: less than one percent of the cost of a typical room night. TPAs are becoming more common; they spread the cost thinly and fairly among the visitors who use our hotels, attractions, and services. Not only will Pierce County hotels remain affordable, but we boast a broad range of free or inexpensive attractions, from Mt Rainier to Puget Sound. A wine walk in Sumner, a golf course in DuPont: these are some of the things that may benefit from the TPA. Visitors benefit directly by having improved website and information services, and access to attractions that they would otherwise never hear about. Astoria, Oregon is a beautiful place to visit but let's discuss this fairly, and do what we can to keep Pierce County tourism viable and competitive. Thanks, Zak Nelson Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau You’re right: nobody wants new taxes, and the proposed Tourism Promotion Area doesn’t include any. This is not a tax; local residents pay nothing. It’s a surcharge levied by hotels in the Area on occupied room nights, ranging from $0.50 to $1.50: less than one percent of the cost of a typical room night. TPAs are becoming more common; they spread the cost thinly and fairly among the visitors who use our hotels, attractions, and services.

Not only will Pierce County hotels remain affordable, but we boast a broad range of free or inexpensive attractions, from Mt Rainier to Puget Sound. A wine walk in Sumner, a golf course in DuPont: these are some of the things that may benefit from the TPA. Visitors benefit directly by having improved website and information services, and access to attractions that they would otherwise never hear about.

Astoria, Oregon is a beautiful place to visit but let’s discuss this fairly, and do what we can to keep Pierce County tourism viable and competitive.

Thanks,
Zak Nelson
Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau

]]>