15-Year Vision for an Industry-Led State Tourism Program Now Moves to Rulemaking and Ratification Process SEATTLE (March 26, 2026) – Today, Washington State Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325 (E2SHB 2325) into law.
Read MoreSpokane, WA (Oct. 14, 2025) – State of Washington Tourism announced the winners of its expanded tourism industry awards at an inaugural awards dinner at the 2025 State of Washington Tourism Conference on Oct.
Read MoreSEATTLE, WA (May 6, 2025) – Figures released today by State of Washington Tourism (SWT) indicate modest growth in Washington State’s visitor volume, expenditures, tax receipts and employment in 2024, though adjusted for inflation, visitor spending has not yet surpassed 2019 levels. The annual Economic Impacts of Visitors in Washington State, compiled by national travel research firm Tourism Economics for SWT, was released today in advance of National Travel and Tourism Week, May 4-10.
Read MoreVancouver, WA (Oct. 8, 2024) – State of Washington Tourism (SWT) announced the winners of its tourism awards at the annual State of Washington Tourism Conference. The awards recognize excellence in tourism work from around the state.
Read MoreSEATTLE (June 1, 2024) – The Snoqualmie Valley will be the next regional destination to participate in the Rural Tourism Support (RTS) program from State of Washington Tourism (SWT). SnoValley Chamber of Commerce will play a leadership role in this program and help bring together local tourism stakeholders.
Read MoreAnnual Impacts Report Released as National Travel & Tourism Week Begins SEATTLE (May 20, 2024) – Figures released today by State of Washington Tourism (SWT) indicate continued recovery in Washington State’s visitor volume, expenditures, tax receipts and employment in 2023, though the pace of recovery is uneven across the state and financial gains are undermined by inflation and have not kept pace with other states and employment growth. The annual Economic Impacts of Visitors in Washington State, compiled for SWT by national travel research firm Tourism Economics, indicates that real spending, inflationary pressures and price increases continued to play a role in visitor spending growth in Washington last year.
Read MorePartnership with Department of Commerce spans 2 years Olympia, Wash. (December 4, 2023) — The Washington State Department of Commerce named State of Washington Tourism (SWT) to administer $3.5 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) block grant funds to assist in tourism industry pandemic recovery after a competitive RFP process. The destination planning and development grants will be dispersed through a competitive, needs-based grant program intended for Washington’s local, city, county and tribal governments, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and other nonprofit organizations involved with travel and tourism.
Read MoreState of Washington Tourism awards $125,000 in grant funding to nine recipients. SEATTLE (Nov. 7, 2023) —Nine of the 11 state tourism regions were represented in the latest round of grant awards for tourism sustainability by State of Washington Tourism (SWT).
Read MoreYAKIMA (Oct. 31, 2023) – State of Washington Tourism (SWT) announced the winners of its tourism awards last week at the annual State of Washington Tourism Conference. The awards recognize excellence in tourism work from around the state.
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