2013
North Whidbey’ s
Tourism a boost to Whidbey economy By WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES STAFF
When Mitch and Lynda Richards opened Coupeville’s Lovejoy Inn during the summer of 2008, they could not have picked a worse time to jump into a small, tourismbased business. That fall, the stock market plummeted, housing prices tanked and the future of the economy looked bleak. But in spite of their timing, the business has experienced growth each year that the inn has been open. Mitch Richards said he credits hard work, competitive pricing, a great location, a website to attract visitors and the efforts made to promote the region for his business’s success. “There are not enough rooms in Coupeville in the summer months,” Richards said. During the “shoulder” seasons of spring and fall – and the winter months when visits from vacationers dry up almost completely – efforts to promote the area are even more critical to supporting Whidbey’s tourism economy. This is something that Sherrye Wyatt said she knows well. She is the public relations and marketing manager for the Island County Joint Tourism Committee. An attractive and informative county tourism website attracts visitors, she said. On the site, pictures show the beauty of Whidbey and Camano islands, while the new infographics pique tourists’ interest with facts and figures. The site receives between 400–600 unique visitors each day, and 20,000 people subscribe to the calendar and events email. The site has received 60,000 more unique visitors this year than last year in 2012, Wyatt said. Richards said some of those online visitors discover his bed and breakfast as they peruse the site. “The (county tourism) website is great and has everything you need to plan a visit,” Richards said. An updated website and infographics were designed by FusionSpark Media in Langley, featuring the artwork of Christopher Baldwin.
Contributed photo, courtesy of Northwest Public Relations in Freeland
The wind picks up wisps of her brown hair, as the young woman runs across the grassy field. In a 15-second video clip, the story unfolds – all without sound – and we see scenes of water, beach, and driftwood, with her written words telling us about her experience. The video is an invitation to tourists to explore Whidbey and Camano islands under the slogan, “The Shortest Distance to Far Away,” showing at ferry terminals on Bainbridge Island and Seattle. The video is a new way to promote tourism in Island County.
Spreading the word Wyatt also spends considerable time hosting travel writers and TV crews. Lisa Bernhardt, executive director of the Pacific NorthWest Art School in Coupeville, said she appreciated a recent media visit to the school. “Having the travel writer come to the art school gives them an idea of what we offer,” Bernhardt said. “There is so much going on here.” Boosting attendance at the art school is good for the local tourist economy, Richards said. When its classes fill up, so do the rooms at his B&B. Wyatt has hosted members of the media from as far away as Japan and Germany. “It has taken a few years to develop these
relationships,” she said, “but they are paying off now.” With the economy on the upswing, additional off-island marketing – such as the visitor guides produced by Whidbey Island’s community newspapers and distributed throughout the region – also have helped boost local tourism. From April through June, ridership on the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route was up by almost 9 percent as compared to the same time period the previous year. According to Dianne Binder, the treasurer of the joint tourism committee, lodging tax revenues are up over 5 percent from one year ago at this time.
Published as a supplement to The Whidbey News-Times
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