PORT TOWNSEND — Collaboration and partnerships are the key to successful tourism, said experts who addressed the 2010 Tourism Summit at Fort Worden State Park on Wednesday.
About 140 people from throughout the North Olympic Peninsula, the state and Canada attended the all-day event, said Christina Pivarnik, city of Port Townsend marketing director.
“It has been absolutely incredible, and everyone has provided great information,” Pivarnik said.
“I think our brains are filled to the max with things we can do and ways to go about accomplishing them.”
State government had a high profile, with the event bookended by addresses from Schuyler Hoss, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s regional representative, and state Director of Tourism Marsha Massey.
‘Green jobs’
“We talk about tourism a lot at the state level, as part of our green jobs initiatives,” Hoss said.
“There is no better example of a green job in my mind than tourism, which takes advantage of our scenic beauty and allows us to take advantage of the special things in our community and share them with others.
“We don’t have the resources we would like to, due to the economy, but we do see tourism as one of the most important venues for job creation in the future,” Hoss said.
Hoss said that tourism jobs represent more than a paycheck to the people who are working in that industry.
Different reasons
“People in the tourism industry tend to love their jobs because they are doing something they really want to do,” he said.
“They are excited and happy to have the opportunity to participate in the sharing of their community with people all over the world.”
Hoss said the standard definition of tourism has evolved and people are traveling for different reasons.
He suggested that communities explore tourism subcategories having to do with food, education and health.
A community does not need to have a major hospital in order to develop health-based tourism, he said.
“Most of the local world-class medical facilities are in the Seattle area,” Hoss said.
“But if you have a routine hip replacement and are going to need to be in some place convalescing for six weeks after that, I think that I would rather be up here on the Olympic Peninsula amidst all of this great beauty and grandeur than in a downtown urban area where there might not be many amenities or much to do.”
The all-day event included lecturers from the Peninsula and the rest of the country.
This annual event has a cyclical effect.
“One of the benefits of being here is the ability to develop relationships with my colleagues in the hospitality and tourism industry because the relationships that began here last year are continuing to be fruitful,” said Crystie Kisler, co-owner of Finnriver Farm in Chimacum.
“The Olympic Peninsula does an amazing job of pulling together all the entities,” said Jean Boyle, owner of Kitsap Tours in Suquamish.
At last year’s event, Boyle was just starting her business. This year, it is in full swing.
“When I was here last year, I was just talking about starting my business, and everyone I met was very supportive,” she said.
“When I launched, I built partnerships with them.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
