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Tourism in Tacoma and Pierce County sets another record

TACOMA, Wash. — Tourism in Tacoma and Pierce County has set yet another record. And no end to the south sound tourist boom is in sight.

On the Foss Waterway Thursday, American Cruise Lines ship the Constellation brought a boatload of visitors to Tacoma as part of its Puget Sound cruise package. One of several cruises scheduled over the summer and fall. Passenger Joan Parker from the San Francisco Bay area says this is one port of call she never expected.

“No,” said Parker. “We always go into Seattle. I’ve been to Seattle quite a few times. But we never came to Tacoma.”

She’s not alone. According to a new report by Dean Runyan Associates Travel Impacts new visitors to Tacoma and Pierce County hit another all-time high in 2018. And the number of tourists and businesses to entertain them are both expected to keep growing.

“We’ve got over 1,100 new hotel rooms being added to the inventory right now that’ll open up in the next two years,” said Travel Tacoma CEO Dean Burke. “That’s a big investment.”

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According to the report, overnight visitors to Tacoma and Pierce County totaled 3.35 million in 2018. Those visitors spent $1.19 billion and generated tax revenue of $132.9 million. The industry supports 12,580 jobs, an increase of more than 2,000 people employed in the tourism and travel industry since 2010.

Businesses are rushing to keep up. New hotels are under construction at Tacoma's convention center and at Point Ruston on the city's waterfront.

Attractions like the Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum are among several bringing visitors who come from all over the state and the world.

“I’m not surprised. There’s been a slow increase over time but now people are starting to realize it’s really a gem,” said Tacoma Art Museum Director of Marketing Hillary Ryan.

Tourist visits were expected to peak in 2015 during the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. Instead there has been a steady increase for nearly a decade. Few expected the tourist industry here to experience repeated record growth year after year, including Travel Tacoma's CEO.

“We’ve been waiting for that next moment, will all of it start to cool off a bit?” said Burke. “And it hasn’t yet.”