Tourism is "Open for Business" following the river Skagit I-5 Bridge Collapse

As first June weekend approach, tourism and Government officials promote the campaign travel, mobile applications and other tools to encourage travel

Mount Vernon, WA - Destination marketing organizations to continue to work in tandem with the touring of Washington (ATA) Alliance in the wake of the Skagit River Bridge I have-5 collapse to ensure that travellers keep travelling during the auto travel season was traditionally occupied.

"It was the perfect storm - just before Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of the summer travel season," said Louise Stanton-Masten, Executive Director of WTA. "We went right to work with our network of professionals of tourism, the Washington State Department of transportation (WSDOT), the State Ministry of Commerce and the Governor Inslee Office. We immediately agreed to communicate proactively that Mount Vernon and Skagit County, the San Juan Islands, Whidbey and Camano Islands, Bellingham and others in Northwest Washington State remain open for the companies and that there were alternatives. »

Travel advisories WTA posted on its consumer travel Web site, www.experiencewa.com and linked to the web sites of organizations that, in turn, sent critical travel bulletins and advice in real time for the public to let them know that the trade routes and Dodge are open affected destination marketing.

Our community came together and focuses on cleaning and repair gateway, as well as the maintenance of routed traffic, said Kristen Keltz, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Mount Vernon in a message to voters."There are alternative routes put in place throughout our communities. WSDOT has been incredible to make adjustments to the extent necessary to ensure a minimum of back upwards. We will begin a campaign today and through the weekend with the message, Skagit County is "worth." It's a major economic artery which affects our entire State! We appreciate all the support we have received so far. »

In addition, app of voyages newly released by the WTA, VisitWA, is proving popular as a tool in real time for travellers, highlighting of the I-5 information, location maps, scenic detours such as Deception Pass and Whidbey Island and providing information to visitors anytime, anywhere in the State.  With the help of GPS functions, the app locates the visitor/user and then displays near the local information.  The $ $ app also features WTA free and affordable travel along the way, the derivations.

The current WTA has an application before the legislature of the State of short-term financing to financially support the Foundation for marketing in 2014-2015 program which would include the web site journey of the consumer's State, postage for sending the Washington State Visitor Guide, operating a travel call centre, research and international marketing. Agenda of Governor Inslee'sWorking Washington made reference to the importance of strengthening links with tourism and the fourth largest export of the State sector as domestic product gross - following the closure of the State tourist office nearly two years ago.

The collapse of the Skagit River Bridge said the State and national needs for the best investment in the modern transport infrastructure to capitalize on economic growth, more jobs, new tax revenues and a positive plus trade balance.  A package of critical transport is under consideration at the special session of the legislature of the State in Olympia and at the national level, the US Transportation Association continues its hall underway to modernize the air traffic control system, increase capacity and improve access to airports in the country and boost funding for national parks.

Tips and travel resources

Washington Tourism Alliance: www.experiencewa.com

For community web sites, the mobile app from travel and other travel resources

Promotion of tourism and affected communities news release:

www.whytourismmatters.com

Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce: www.visitskagitcounty.com

Information updates various tourism and other enterprises throughout Skagit County

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT): wsdot.wa.gov/construction/pugetsound/today.htm

Information and status of the official route updates

Amtrak: www.AmtrakCascades.com

From today, the Amtrak Cascades will add a third daily train round trip between Seattle and Bellingham. It is a temporary addition to the service to facilitate travellers.

Washington Tourism Alliance

The touring of Washington (ATA) Alliance is an organization of [c] 6 501 established by the industry with the single mission of supporting the promotion of tourism destination in Washington State. The WTA obtains and administers funds for marketing tourism destination State activities and creates and implements a plan of strategic marketing of destination by State. www.watourismalliance.com.

Tourism is the fourth largest industry of Washington State. The State has seen a few trips overnight total 36.4 million in 2012 and these visitors has increased from 16.9 billion $ and stimulate local and state tax of more than 1 billion - the equivalent of $390 for all households residing in the State of Washington. Travel and tourism support 153 300 jobs and income (wages) of 4.7 billion $.