ORLT Resources and Research

This site provides useful links for students, tourism industry professionals, communities, and others. We'll expand the content periodically, so check back from time to time.

Agencies

The Oregon Tourism Commission (OTC) promotes Oregon in source markets and provides information resources for Oregon businesses and communities involved in tourism. Various other statewide organizations, including the Oregon Lodging Association, play important roles in tourism. There are also regional destination marketing organizations (DMOs). In Central Oregon, these include COVA and Bend VCB.

Economic Impact Analyses

The OTC funds annual studies of tourism's contribution to the Oregon economy. These reports, together with analyses for some other western states, are available from Dean Runyan Associates. Similar studies are also available at the national and global level from the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Market Research

The OTC also periodically funds profiles of Oregon's tourism market. The 2005 report is expected soon, and the 1997 summary report is available. Several local and national level reports are also available from the US Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

Many organizations that are not traditionally considered part of the tourism sector conduct relevant visitor research. For example, the US Forest Service surveys visitors as part of its National Visitior Use Monitoring (NVUM) program. The NVUM web site provides background on the program and results from surveys on national forests in Oregon and around the country (use the pull-down menu to select reports for relevant national forests).

Many local agencies, such as the Port of Portland and various convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), conduct intercept surveys - surveys of people who visit or pass through their facilities. Each agency will have topics and questions that are unique to its survey, but we include sample surveys here to help those developing their own survey and to encourage common question and answer formats where feasible. When agencies across the state use the same formats, results can be compared across survey efforts - so destinations can benchmark their visitor profile against others in the state or region, and the state as a whole can obtain a richer understanding of visitors.

Be sure to check back periodically for new examples of surveys and reports!