Believe it or not, outsiders appear to like Clark County as much as we do. According to Visit Vancouver USA, tourism spending increased to $472.5 million in 2016, a bump of about 4.7 percent from the previous year and a jump of 73 percent since 2000.
And why not? The Couv is a happening place. With an influx of brewpubs in recent years, you might even say that we’re … hopping! So it is no wonder that people would want to visit and spend a little money here, taking advantage of the region’s natural amenities and the vibrancy of our cities.
Which leads to two questions: How do we sustain the momentum? And how much is too much?
The first item will not be easy, but it certainly appears attainable. Ilani Casino Resort, which opened last year near La Center, likely will draw people from throughout the metropolitan area and beyond for years to come. There is a reason Las Vegas keeps building bigger and bigger casinos and Native American tribes keep getting into the gaming business — and it’s not because casinos are unpopular.
And The Waterfront Vancouver development, scheduled to begin opening this summer, will provide new amenities that will reshape the core of the city and hearken to visitors. As Kim Bennett of Visit Vancouver USA told The Columbian: “We’re certainly going to utilize that for a lot of group business we already attract. It’s something new for them to experience: New dining options, new views of the Columbia River they haven’t been able to experience before.”
Notably, both Ilani and the waterfront development are planning hotels. So are developers at numerous other sites throughout the county, representing the region’s growing desirability as a destination rather than a pit stop.
Tourism is inextricably linked to the economy; downturns are inevitable. But Clark County is positioning itself for continued growth in a sector that many regions are riskily using as the basket for all their eggs. That highlights the need for broad-based economic growth; stability is dependent upon a mix of hospitality services, corporate offices, manufacturing, construction, health care, and numerous other sectors.
As author Arian Herbovetz wrote at StrongTowns.org under the headline “The Big Urban Mistake: Building for Tourism vs. Livability”: “Proposals to create high-priced hotels, sports complexes, auditoriums and even casinos clash with calls for parks, affordable housing, walkability, practical transit and neighborhood amenities like small grocery stores. Developers throw lavish plans on the table that will surely (temporarily) usher in the wallets of the wealthy, while residents new and old call for a more livable downtown for everyone to enjoy. This conflict is currently playing out in countless cities across the nation.”
Tourism and livability are not mutually exclusive. But creating a city in which they coexist requires planning and attention to detail. One example is the inclusion of a 7-acre park as part of The Waterfront Vancouver. Parks invite residents to comingle with visitors and are essential to the livability of a city. So, too, are adequate transportation, housing, and the retention of neighborhood identities.
Each of those will be crucial as Clark County continues to remake itself for the 21st century. While we welcome tourists, we also recognize the needs of residents. The ability to strike the proper balance will keep Clark County hopping for years to come.
