Thirty-one percent of Clallam County visitors say they are likely to return within a year.
But the percentage is significantly lower than in Jefferson County, where 48 percent of visitors surveyed said they would return within a year.
In Kitsap County, it’s even higher — 51 percent.
The results were released earlier this week by the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
“That’s what we have to look at closely,” said Kristi Agren, North Olympic Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau director of tourism and marketing.
Agren said the state survey shows tourism officials have to work to increase repeat visitation and draw more tourists westward to Clallam County.
Such tourism statistics — which reveal strengths and weaknesses in both counties’ marketing strategies — are found in the Olympic & Kitsap Peninsulas 2002 Visitor Profile.
The study was initiated by Nancy Borino, city of Port Townsend marketing director, who approached tourism officials in Clallam and Kitsap counties to help underwrite the cost of the survey.
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