Funding & Budget
The Importance of Tourism in Oregon
Tourism plays an enormous role in the Oregon economy with travel spending at $14.6 billion, supporting an industry that employs 122,920 Oregonians earning $5 billion in 2025.
To capture the economic impact of tourism in Oregon, Travel Oregon works with Dean Runyan Associates to estimate the economic significance of the travel industry in Oregon. The full report describes the economic impacts of travel to and through the state, each of its seven tourism regions and all 36 counties every year. We invite you to see how tourism has grown— both in the Willamette Valley and throughout Oregon — to better understand and appreciate the vital role of the growing industry. The main visitation season is summer, with spring and fall being our shoulder seasons. However, we are seeing, especially for more eastern areas, the season being condensed due to fire in August and September.
About Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening the economic impacts of the state’s $14.3 billion tourism industry that employs more than 120,000 Oregonians.
The Oregon Tourism Commission, a nine-member board appointed by the Governor, governs the Travel Oregon staff and its programs; the agency is funded by a 1.5% statewide transient lodging tax.
The Travel Oregon staff develops and implements a biennial strategic marketing plan which includes advertising and marketing, publication development, cooperative promotions, consumer fulfillment, public relations, international marketing, tourism product development, State Welcome Centers, research, and industry relations. Travel Oregon cooperates extensively with local communities, industry associations, government agencies, and private businesses in the implementation of its strategic plan.
For more information about Travel Oregon and its programs, please visit Industry.TravelOregon.com or watch the Travel Oregon 101 video.
Regional Cooperative Tourism Program
Travel Oregon’s RCTP dedicates 20% of the State’s Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) into regional tourism programming and activities across the state. Seven Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs), recognized by Travel Oregon, develop and submit regional plans for use of state dollars for the Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP). By leveraging state dollars along with private and public resources, the RDMO’s and Travel Oregon collaborate to bolster Oregon’s tourism economy.
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association is the RDMO for the Willamette Valley region. To view the Willamette Valley Visitor Association's RCTP Plan and Budget please refer to the statewide plan and click on "Willamette Valley."
Willamette Valley Visitors Association: Serving Seven Counties
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA) is a 501c6 that serves as the Regional Destination Marketing and Management Organization (RDMO) for Yamhill, Polk, Marion, Linn, and Benton counties, and portions of Lane and Clackamas counties. We are focused on promoting responsible tourism and regional economic well-being that benefits residents and visitors alike. Our mission is to enhance the region’s vitality by cultivating authentic experiences to support local communities, ensuring the Willamette Valley's long-term resilience. We are dedicated to fostering the prosperity of the Willamette Valley as a welcoming and inclusive year-round destination.
WVVA works to drive overnight visitation to the region to support a thriving tourism economy in partnership with our local Destination Marketing/Management Organization (DMO) partners. We inspire travel to the region through integrated marketing campaigns celebrating our unique culture, people, and landscapes. WVVA also works to support the development of tourism assets and community-based tourism programs. As the RDMO appointed by the Oregon Tourism Commission, WVVA manages the Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP), its main funding source.
Learn more about our recent work in the 2024-2025 Annual Report and WWVA's long-term plan with the 2025-2031 Strategic Plan.
