Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson was this week’s guest on Eye on Northwest Politics
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — In a sure sign of Oregon’s recovery, tourists are returning to the Beaver State at levels not seen since before the pandemic.
The Oregon Tourism Commission, operating as Travel Oregon, said tourist spending in 2023 will reach a record $14 billion.
Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson appeared on Eye on Northwest Politics to talk about why Oregon tourism is back on track and what the future holds for tourism in Oregon.
First, tourism is a major driver of Oregon’s economy, bringing an estimated 25 million visitors to the state each year, but some parts of the state have recovered better than others from pre-pandemic levels. But it’s not all doom and gloom, Davidson said.
“Here in the Portland area, we’re at about a 95% recovery rate,” he said, “so we’re the only part of the state where recovery is still ongoing. But we’re getting very close to pre-pandemic levels.”
Davidson said the pandemic hit the state with an “immediate” and “severe” impact, resulting in the loss of 25,000 jobs overnight and a nearly 50% drop in tourist spending. But despite that, Oregon’s tourism industry has remained resilient.
“People come here because of this incredible natural beauty,” he points out. “They want to get outside and be rejuvenated by the natural beauty. That definition can vary from person to person. Some people come here to mountain bike on the southern Oregon coast, while others come to explore the wine country outside of Portland.”
Additionally, Oregon’s food and wine scene is once again making waves, and the restaurant scene is considered one of the best in the country and even the world.
A great example is Gregory Gourdette, whose Haitian restaurant Can in Southeast Portland won a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant of 2023. Now Gourdette has been tapped as executive chef for a high-end retail space in New York that also operates multiple restaurants, which is part of what’s happening in Portland’s food scene and drawing tourists to the area, Davidson said.
“What’s grown here in Oregon is really unprecedented and so vibrant,” he added. “You can get beef, lamb, seafood, fresh fruit from cucumbers, tomatoes, sugar cane, you name it, and you can make magic happen in the kitchen. That’s what draws them here.”
More recently, major sporting events have also boosted tourism in Oregon, including the March Madness regional tournaments, the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, and the Women’s Final Four scheduled for 2030.
But Davidson acknowledged there are some goals to work on when it comes to international visitation, including “working diligently to increase air service to Oregon to help with the recovery.”
Check out the video above for the full interview.
