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Industry Leaders Push Self‑Funding Model for State Tourism; Proposal Would Let Businesses Ratify Assessments
Summary
SB 6,061 would authorize the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority to establish an industry‑led tourism assessment by rule, subject to ratification by participating businesses. Industry panels and State of Washington Tourism argued the model could generate $25 million annually and an estimated $14.6 billion in visitor spending over a decade; questions focused on thresholds, local taxes, and governance.
Senate Bill 6,061, presented to the committee Jan. 22, would authorize the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority (WTMA) to set up a tourism self‑support assessment program by rule, subject to ratification by covered tourism businesses. The assessment would be calculated as a percentage of gross revenue and collected annually; the bill creates a ratepayer oversight board to design program details and a separate tourism assessment account for receipts.
David Blanford, CEO of State of Washington Tourism, described long‑running efforts to rebuild and sustain statewide tourism since the agency’s 2011 closure and…
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