Source: Dean Runyan Associates
Tourism dollars at work in the Portland Region
Many tourism organizations, including Travel Oregon, Travel Portland and Explore Tualatin Valley invest millions of dollars in community initiatives through grant programs, strategic investment funds or direct sponsorship. Click through to see the investments that have been critical contributors to local projects in recent years.
Activating downtown Portland
Supporting recovery efforts in the Central City through sponsoring a variety of events, activations and wayfinding that support enhancing the visitor experience and provide new reasons for travelers and locals alike to return to the urban core.
Supporting culinary tourism
Investing in marketing and media efforts that highlight local food producers and restaurants, as well as providing the first $1 million gift to the James Beard Public Market—establishing a new world-class destination downtown for foodies from Portland and around the globe to enjoy Oregon’s bounty.
Revitalizing rural Columbia County
Funding a variety of tourism infrastructure improvements, including the St. Helens Riverwalk and paddle sports docks on Scappoose Bay.
Supporting sports tourism
From major investments that helped rebuild the Hillsboro Hops stadium as a year-round sports facility to partnering with Sport Oregon to secure sports tournaments and capitalize on a growing market.
Portland Region
Economic Impact of Tourism in the Portland Region
$5.5 billion
Direct Travel Spending
35,840
Jobs
26.7 million
Overnight stays
Local Portland region tax receipts generated by tourists in 2024 accounted for $143 million in state revenue, and $143 million in local taxes—representing more than $402 per local household in the region. For every $100 spent by visitors in the region, $35 goes directly back to locals in employee earnings.
Portland skyline by Sean Pavone 
Tourism Bolsters Communities
More than 120 cities and counties across Oregon—including 15 in the Portland region—collect a local transient lodging tax that is distinct from the statewide tax to expend on local programming. A statewide study conducted by
ECONorthwest in 2018 found that cities and counties that levied a local transient lodging tax spent the plurality of the revenue on general services. Other major categories of local investment include tourism facilities such as meeting spaces and sports fields; tourism promotion and marketing through organizations such as Explore Tualatin Valley and Travel Portland; arts, culture and entertainment and local events.
In line with statute, 20% of state transient lodging taxes are directed to seven regional tourism organizations, with Travel Portland serving the Portland region, for community responsive tourism development and promotion. Local transient tax dollars, especially those expended on tourism facilities and promotional programs, can be leveraged against regional and state tourism expenditures to attract and steward visitors in individual communities. This increase in visitors, in turn, increases resources for arts and culture, infrastructure and public services—directly benefiting Oregonians in those communities.
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