Rep. Linda Kochmar’s local tourism promotion area bill passes the Legislature
A bill sponsored by Rep. Linda Kochmar, R-Federal Way, permitting the city of Federal Way to create a local tourism promotion area that can be used to draw tourists to the city.
House Bill 1279 passed the House 73-25 in March, and passed the Senate 46-3 April 15.
“Kemper Freeman, the builder of Bellevue Square, said Federal Way is one of the best kept secrets in the Puget Sound area” said Kochmar. “Kemper is right. Federal Way is a vibrant community that has much to offer. The city needs this bill in order to attract tourists and strengthen our local economy.”
Federal Way hoteliers met with city officials and agreed to charge up to a $2 lodging fee on visitors to help promote the amenities within the city.
Kochmar said the local tourism promotion area will allow the city to promote amenities such as the Olympic-size Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center, the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, performing arts groups and more.
Currently, King County allows for two or more adjacent cities over a certain population limit to enter into an agreement for a tourism promotion area, but due to Federal Way's unique, geographic location, it does not meet the requirements to enter into a tourism-promotion-area agreement.
The bill now advances to the governor's desk to be signed into law.
