Washington state is set to receive $10.7 million from a federal travel, tourism and outdoor recreation grant.
It's unclear exactly how the state will spend those dollars, but the federal aid, announced Monday by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, can go toward marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to bolster safe leisure, business and international travel. More than 18 months after the pandemic brought recreational tourism to a halt, the industry in Washington is preparing for renewed demand at hotels and other hospitality businesses.
Though, many operators continue to face staffing shortages and heightened expenses.
“The coronavirus pandemic devastated the travel and tourism industry – the linchpin of local economies across the country,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo said in a news release. “EDA is proud to give state and territory leaders the resources to build back better through locally led strategies that uniquely address the challenges and opportunities of their local travel tourism and outdoor recreation industry.”
The federal administration's announcement comes the same day the U.S. reopened its land borders and ports to international tourists. In Washington, Canadian tourists are the state's largest international market. Their return is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars back to businesses in the Seattle area.
Washington is among 34 states, plus the District of Columbia, receiving a total of $314 million in tourism aid. The money comes from the American Rescue Plan, which includes another $240 million in competitive tourism grants, which will go to areas where the travel and hospitality industries were hardest hit by the pandemic.
“Rebuilding the travel and tourism industry is a key component of the Biden Administration’s plan to build back better and restore the competitiveness of the United States on the global stage,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said in a news release. “The State Tourism grants give states and territories the flexible opportunity to boost their local tourism industry and ensure that jobs are restored and tourists return safely.”
