For the first time ever, travel spending in Lane County has passed the $1 billion mark. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, tourism officials are delighted.
Correction: In an earlier version of this story, it was reported that Lane County visitors spent $300 thousand more last year than they did in 2008. The actual figure is $300 million. We apologize for the error.
A new study prepared for the Oregon Tourism Commission shows that last year, visitors collectively spent $300 million more in Lane County than they did in 2008.
Andy Vobora is Vice President of Stakeholder Relations for Travel Lane County. He says one of the area’s biggest draws is the Oregon Coast, especially a 40-mile section south of Florence.
“We see somewhere between 500,000 to 700,000 visitors to the Oregon Dunes each year," he tells KLCC.
"But really of the millions of people who are coming to Lane County, we just have so much to offer, with the Cascades and rivers that we have, the lakes, so…we really do have something for everyone.”
Additionally, 11,000 jobs in Lane County are supported by tourism. And $40.5 million in local and state tax revenue is generated.
The report is part of a statewide snapshot that shows Oregon taking in more than $12 billion annually from visitors.
Copyright 2019, KLCC.
