PORT ANGELES – A new study paid for by the Washington Tourism Alliance has come up with a breakdown of tourist spending in 4 Olympic Peninsula counties and the numbers are pretty good for Clallam County.
In 2018, direct visitor spending in Clallam, Jefferson, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties totaled more than $975 million.
It might be a surprise to some, but Grays Harbor County with its endless beaches and clam digging leads the pack, but Clallam County was second with $300 million in tourist spending last year. That was a 7.5% increase.
The report, conducted by Dean Runyan Associates, also tells us where tourists are spending all that money.
35% of those dollars went to restaurants, with seafood such as Dungeness crabs being a huge draw.
20% went to hotels, motels, campgrounds and the like.
Arts and entertainment took in 14%, and retail sales were 12%. Food stores and transportation/gas were at 11% and 9% respectively.
Individual County Statistics
2018p Visitor Spending for Olympic Peninsula (Figures in Millions of Dollars)
| Clallam | Jefferson | Mason | Grays Harbor | |
| TOTAL DIRECT TRAVEL SPENDING | $300.7 | $165.4 | $122 | $387.5 |
| % Change, Year Over Year | 7.5% | 8.4% | 3.1% | 5.3% |
| Tax Revenue Generated (State/Local) | $21.9 | $10.7 | $8.3 | $26.6 |
| % Change, Year Over Year | 7.4% | 7.5% | 2.5% | 5.5% |
| JOBS | 4,260 | 1,630 | 1,340 | 5,910 |
| EARNINGS | $101.5 | $40.4 | $41.1 | $125.5 |
*2018p estimates are preliminary and subject to revision.