Whatcom’s tourism industry expected to see more impacts after first coronavirus case
Whatcom County’s tourism industry was starting to see the impact of the coronavirus before the first confirmed case, but now the industry is expecting a bigger hit in the coming weeks.
Some group cancellations at local lodging properties had already taken place before the first confirmed case on Tuesday, March 10. The first confirmed case also led Whatcom County to declare a public health emergency.
Sandy Ward, president and CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, said they are working with the local lodging industry to make sure they are prepared.
“We also are concerned about our restaurants and retail establishments,” Ward said in an email.
The tourism industry, particularly outdoor recreation, is a key part of Whatcom County’s economy. According to an industry report, travel spending totaled $705.7 million in 2018. The Dean Runyan report estimated Whatcom tourism spending provided nearly $18 million in local taxes.
In January Whatcom County employed an estimated 10,500 people in the leisure and hospitality industry. That represents about 11% of this area’s nonfarm workforce, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department.
Here’s an update on several events being postponed or canceled:
▪ The organizers of the annual Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day Parade have canceled the event, which was set for Saturday, March 14.
The parade committee said it was doing so to keep the community safe after the Whatcom County Health Department recommended that large gatherings of 10 to 50 people or more be canceled. The county’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on Tuesday, March 10.
The committee said it hopes to offer similar activities at a later time, when it is safer to gather.
▪ One key Bellingham event that is being postponed is the first-ever Northwest Tune-Up. The signature event, partially funded through a city grant, is now scheduled for June 2021. On its website, organizers wrote that the decision to postpone the event a year was made given “the seriousness and uncertainty” surrounding COVID-19. They wanted to ensure safety and a successful festival.
The Northwest Tune-Up, which was scheduled for June 5-7, would have had bike races on Galbraith Mountain along with downtown events.
▪ The Mount Baker Theatre has canceled all large events scheduled in March, according to an email from Interim Executive Director John Purdie. The theater is working to notify ticket holders of that decision.
These postponement of events could be a preview of what’s to come as we head into spring.
“It’ll be rough for a while,” Ward said, adding that the silver lining for the tourism industry is that it tends to bounce back quickly once people are ready to travel again. Based on what she’s seen from past shock events, like the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other virus epidemics, it could take 18 months for tourism to recover.
Some in the industry are taking a wait-and-see approach. Sean Berry, sales and marketing manager at San Juan Cruises in Bellingham, told a reporter from McClatchy that they’ve had a few cancellations for the whale watching tours, but they have also had a few new reservations. The whale-watching and other trips for San Juan Cruises won’t start for a few more weeks.
“We’re kind of keeping our fingers crossed that the situation subsides,” Berry said.
Next steps
Also looking at past events as guidance, Ward said the tourism industry is fairly resilient when it must ride through a rough patch. She expects that as tourism slows and events are canceled, the industry will cut back on staff and hunker down. Following the lead of airlines and cruise ships, she expects other tourism-based businesses such as hotels to begin offering deals. People might initially not go for discounted room rates and travel right now, but those deals will probably be in place when people do decide to start traveling more.
Ward said the tourism agency is also taking precautions. That includes not staffing some of the visitor information kiosks around the county, including the airport, for the time being. Ward noted that those kiosks were staffed by older volunteers who pose a higher risk if they were to get the virus that’s also known as CONVID-19. For now, they are staffing the visitor center at 904 Potter St.
The tourism bureau is also postponing upcoming meetings and conferences. It is also posting travel advisories on the tourism website.
Looking ahead, Ward said the local tourism industry will face challenges, but given the popularity of this area it will bounce back quickly through pent-up demand. One other silver lining? Since everyone is rediscovering the importance of washing hands, she expects it will lessen impact seasonal flu which currently remains strong in Washington. That may carry over into next season.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 7:29 AM.
