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Tourism report: Whidbey‑Camano visitor spending and marketing efforts highlighted for Langley
Summary
At the Dec. 2 meeting, Whidbey‑Camano Islands Tourism presented data showing tourism drives significant county revenue (about $177.5 million) and that Langley depends heavily on tourism (24–26% of local sales); presenters outlined a year‑round marketing plan and new visitor publications.
Inge Morascini presented the Whidbey‑Camano Islands Tourism annual report to the Langley City Council, citing countywide tourism gross revenue of $177,462,919 (2004–2024 figure in the report) and noting growth in tourism-related retail sales for Langley, which the report lists as $26,567,211 in 2024. The report states Langley’s tourism-related sales account for roughly 24%–26% of local sales and that tourism accounts for about 10% of all county sales.
The written report appended to the minutes lists 557,328 trips from 10/31/2020–10/31/2024 and an estimated 7,094,632 visitors in the first 10 months of 2024 for the Whidbey‑Camano region; it also details staffing numbers in tourism‑dependent sectors (for example, 2,356 employed in accommodation and food services in 2023).
Morascini and the report outlined recent marketing and regenerative tourism efforts, including a year‑round broadcast campaign (40 TV spots per month on PBS), an 'Embrace Visitor' bi‑monthly broadsheet, and increased use of local talent and advertorial placements. The presentation and appended figures were provided to council for information.
