SB 5827-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

Finds that: (1) National and international tourism is a growing sector that can provide Washington residents with jobs and local communities with needed revenues;

(2) Contacts made through national and international tourism activities may yield future benefits in terms of future national and international investments in the state;

(3) Current efforts to promote national and international tourism are too diffuse to yield significant benefits; and

(4) A collaborative effort among state and local governments, tribes, and private enterprises can serve to leverage the investments in national and international tourism and trade made by each.

Declares that it is therefore the policy of the state to create a single entity to be known as the Washington state tourism center to develop new, and expand existing, opportunities for national and international tourism and trade.

Authorizes local governments to divert a portion of the revenue collected under local sales and use taxes on the sale of lodging to the center.