Skagit Valley Tourism Workspace
The Skagit Valley in Northwest Washington is participating in the Rural Tourism Support (RTS) program from State of Washington Tourism (SWT) in 2025. Now in its fifth cycle, the program incorporates a community-based approach to tourism development within a regional destination. Sustainable tourism expert Kristin Dahl with the consulting firm Crosscurrent Collective will facilitate a series of community workshops for Skagit Valley residents, business owners, and other tourism stakeholders.
After participating in the RTS program, the Skagit Valley will adopt a series of destination promotion and management strategies that include the development of year-round tourism experiences and messaging for responsible travel. The program serves as a vital resource for underserved communities, providing industry research, consulting services, and grant funding.
Community engagement is a hallmark of the RTS program. The workshop series plays a critical role in developing trust and understanding among tourism stakeholders while identifying areas of collaboration and consensus. All of this work encourages industry and community leaders to pursue sustainable tourism practices that support the region’s economy, preserve local history and culture, and safeguard natural resources.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., La Conner
Join industry facilitators and other tourism stakeholders in an exercise to help communities identify their sense of place, coalesce ideas, and build a more resilient and sustainable visitor economy. This “think tank”-style workshop will include several sessions, bringing people together to discuss a common vision for the region’s future while exploring innovative solutions that enhance travel and tourism in Skagit County.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sedro-Woolley
This workshop focuses on sustainable and meaningful nature-based experiences – from wildlife viewing and guided fishing trips to water recreation and trail systems. Attendees will examine how other destinations embrace nature-based tourism and leverage outdoor recreation as a means for economic development.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Burlington
Increasingly, communities are leveraging sports tourism as a key economic driver to connect communities and drive demand during the shoulder seasons and off-peak days. This workshop will foster new ideas and strategies among tourism partners to position Skagit County as a destination for sporting events, from planning and marketing to community engagement and infrastructure improvements.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Anacortes
Calling all artisans, makers, and creatives! Let’s collaborate to elevate and integrate cultural tourism throughout Skagit County. Together, we will strive to support this sector of the local economy while maintaining and celebrating different parts of our region’s unique identity.
The Skagit Tourism Bureau and SWT are eager to hear from tourism-related stakeholders who live or work in the region. Primary communities in this region include Anacortes, La Conner, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, and Concrete.
The information you share will help inform decision-making about the future of tourism in the region. The survey should take about 5-7 minutes to complete. This survey is conducted by a third party, Crosscurrent Collective. Responses will be analyzed by Crosscurrent and a summary of the aggregate results will be shared with the community.
If you have any questions about the survey, please email info@crosscurrentcollective.com.
Please note the survey has closed.
Jesica Kiser, Anacortes Chamber of Commerce
Steph Rees, Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Matt Miller, City of Anacortes
Mayor Bill Aslett, City of Burlington
Mayor Peter Donovan, City of Mount Vernon
Mayor Julia Johnson, City of Sedro-Woolley
Valerie Stafford, Concrete Chamber of Commerce
Meredith McIlmoyle, Creative Arts District
Terica Ginther, Deception Pass Tours
John Sternlicht, Economic Alliance of Skagit County
Blake Van Roekel, Genuine Skagit Valley
Dan Mitzel, Hotel Services Group
Mark Hulst, La Conner Chamber of Commerce
Dawn Maher, Majestic Inn
Andy Mayer, Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Nicole Smith, Samish Indian Nation
Tom Wooten, Samish Indian Nation
Monique Brigham, Sedro Woolley Chamber of Commerce
Skagit County Commissioners, Skagit County
Frances Negranza, Skagit Fairgrounds
Luke Baugh, Skagit River Triad Tours
Maleah Kuzminsky, Skagit Transit
Crystle Stidham, Skagit Transit
Nicole Roozen, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Chairman Steve Edwards, Swinomish Indian Nation
Jennifer La Pointe, Swinomish Indian Nation
Steve Edwards, Swinomish Indian Nation
Katie Hayton, The La Conner Inn and Channel Lodge
Mayor Marna Hanneman, Town of La Conner
Russ Olivier, VIP Hospitality Group
Rob Wingard, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Terry Gifford, Willowbrook Teahouse and Manor
Tourism stakeholders can find outreach materials here, including a workshop poster and social media graphics.
Featured image courtesy of Visit Skagit Valley