PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau will continue working to draw tourists, especially from Puget Sound, the Portland, Ore., area and southern Vancouver Island, the agency’s director said Tuesday.
The organization promotes the North Olympic Peninsula, informing visitors of what is available and coordinating efforts by national and international media reporting on the area.
“The Puget Sound area has a turnover of about 25 percent coming in and out of the area every few years,” Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau Executive Director Diane Schostak told about 30 people at the Port Angeles Business Association breakfast meeting.
“We are constantly having to reinforce that this is a good place to come because they can come here on short notice and come back several times a year.
“With such a turnover rate, there are people coming into the area who might not necessarily know what we have to offer, so that is what we are trying to reinforce.”
Vancouver Island
She referred to challenges in selling the Peninsula to Canadians.
“After all there are 18 miles of salt water between us and it is another country,” Schostak said. “But we are trying to differentiate ourselves.”
A visitor bureau study last year revealed that Canadians who knew of Port Angeles had positive impressions — but most didn’t know about it, even if they had passed through on a ferry.
“People had positive impressions — but most had no impression at all,” she said.
“In a way that can be a good thing, because we are not fighting a negative image or trying to change it,” she said.
“We get the chance to tell our story the way we want to.”
The visitor bureau has printed brochures that detail activities on the Peninsula.
“We really went more into the text so it can be a real guide in helping people plan their trips,” Schostak said.
Park a focal point
She said that Olympic National Park in particular is a point of interest.
“We know that is the primary reason people come here,” she said.
“We really do have a world class tourism attraction here.”
The park is featured prominently on two state tourism guides, Schostak said.
“The Olympic Peninsula really is the darling child of the state,” she said.
“We know that, but it isn’t just a matter of our civic pride. Others can see that as well.”
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
