Whidbey & Camano Islands tourism group reports growth and marketing shift; Coupeville representative pushes back on criticism

A representative of Whidbey & Camano Islands Tourism told the Coupeville Town Council Jan. 14 that tourism is the islands’ third-largest industry and reported rising visitor spending, a growing mailing list and new marketing strategies designed to spread visitation around the county.

Inga Corsini, identified in the meeting as the tourism group’s public-relations and marketing director, said the organization measured roughly $177 million in gross visitor-related revenue for 2023 (excluding retail sales) and that accommodations, food service and lodging accounted for the bulk of taxable sales. Corsini said Island County outperformed much of the state in 2024 and the county’s visitor economy had been repositioned to emphasize “regenerative tourism,” a strategy that seeks to attract audiences whose interests align with local lifestyles and to provide alternatives — such as lesser-known trails and cultural heritage sites — that reduce pressure on the most heavily visited places.

Corsini described several 2025 initiatives, including a broadcast campaign on PBS to reach an older demographic, a social-media quiz that generates AI‑created itineraries for respondents, a new broadsheet to be distributed at visitor centers and updates to the trails and heritage guides. She said the tourism website produced an estimated return-on-investment figure and that paid and organic campaigns had expanded the organization’s mailing list by roughly 2,000 addresses in the last six months.

Following the presentation, Council Member Jackie Anderson — who represents Coupeville on the tourism board — read a prepared statement addressing recent public criticisms and public-records requests directed at the tourism board. Anderson said the state auditor’s office completed an exit conference on Sept. 7, 2023, and that in the areas reviewed (use of restricted funds, accounts payable, procurement, open public meetings and financial condition) the tourism board “complied in all material aspects with applicable state laws” while also receiving recommendations to improve procurement and other internal processes. Anderson said the board has spent the last 18 months implementing changes, that contracts are bid through RFPs and interviews, and that the board’s 2025 budget was submitted to the county on time as part of the county budget process.

Why it matters: tourism revenue and marketing strategy affect Coupeville’s local businesses, festivals and town services. Council members praised the tourism group’s regional reach, marketing work and distribution capacity for printed visitor materials, and acknowledged the board’s ongoing internal reforms after the state audit and recent public complaints.

Context and next steps: Corsini said the tourism group’s work is governed by an interlocal agreement among county municipalities and that the organization contracts for PR, design and website management. Anderson told the council she intends to continue serving on the tourism board for another year but said she would step down if the council preferred another representative. Councilors appointed Anderson later in the meeting to another one-year term on the tourism committee.