Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism president and CEO Sandy Ward recently visited Point Roberts and she apparently liked what she saw: She’s rented a place to stay for the Fourth of July weekend for her and her family.
Ward took the first ferry from Fairhaven on Friday, April 16 and spent the day touring the Point with chamber of commerce director Louise Mugar getting the lay of the land and meeting business owners and residents. She is looking at both short- and long-term ways to help the Point survive the pandemic-induced downturn and diversify its reliance on Canadian visitors.
Asked why someone involved in the business of tourism would care about economic development, Ward said, “Tourism is development. We’re sort of a gateway drug. People first come to visit and they say to themselves, this would be a good place to bring their business.”
She added that in 2019, tourists brought $550 million into the Whatcom County economy and directly and indirectly supported 7,400 jobs.
Ward is involved in trying to stimulate visits to Point Roberts in the spring, summer and fall months and is working with the Port of Bellingham, the county and marinas on an advertising campaign aimed at bringing boaters to the Point, Blaine and Semiahmoo.
