Agritourism Plays Key Role in Columbia Basin Tourism

The 47^th Annual Meeting of Visit Tri-Cities focused on Culinary Tourism, calling it the “Hidden Harvest” and agriculture and agtourism featured prominently in the successes and plans for the future.

President and CEO Kris Watkins said that agtourism can provide more economic opportunity, another “harvest” for producers by bringing customers to them.

“They are really enjoying coming from the large cities into an area of our size and being able to experience that first-hand experience in meeting with a farmer or a winemaker.”

Tourism brings in nearly $433 million in revenue to the Tri-Cities and supports 5,900 jobs according to the organization.

Watkins said while she doesn’t have exact numbers yet, what she hears from wineries, markets and others, there’s been an uptick in visitors and there is even more reason to be optimistic.

“When you think of the agriculture that we have and the diversity that we have in agriculture and our wineries, all roads do lead to the Tri-Cities. So stay tuned! I believe that we are going to really be put on the map Northwest-wise, nationally and perhaps internationally eventually, and not too long away either.”

Watkins said that if producers can bring in visitors to experience their products first hand, they will develop more loyal buyers.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.