Port Angeles “Invisible” to Canadians
Today’s PDN talks about the disparity in tourism between Victoria and Port Angeles. Port Angeles obviously doesn’t compare with Victoria in terms of tourist attractions.
But the article was still surprising. Out of the 200 Canadians taking part in the survey, 92 said they’ve been to the Olympic Peninsula. Of those 92 people, only 16 of them said they’d heard of Port Angeles. WTF?
They presumably arrived at the Peninsula via the Port Angeles ferry terminal. (They could’ve crossed at a different border and then driven here, but that’s a lot less likely.) And yet most of those people were so uninterested or so unobservant, they don’t remember anything about Port Angeles, not even its name.
Houston we have a problem.
Kent Myers has had several meetings with Victoria’s mayor, city manager and various business leaders about improving tourist travel between the two cities. He said: “They just do not have a general understanding of Port Angeles, who we are and what we have to offer.”
What say you?
But the article was still surprising. Out of the 200 Canadians taking part in the survey, 92 said they’ve been to the Olympic Peninsula. Of those 92 people, only 16 of them said they’d heard of Port Angeles. WTF?
They presumably arrived at the Peninsula via the Port Angeles ferry terminal. (They could’ve crossed at a different border and then driven here, but that’s a lot less likely.) And yet most of those people were so uninterested or so unobservant, they don’t remember anything about Port Angeles, not even its name.
Houston we have a problem.
Kent Myers has had several meetings with Victoria’s mayor, city manager and various business leaders about improving tourist travel between the two cities. He said: “They just do not have a general understanding of Port Angeles, who we are and what we have to offer.”
What say you?
posted by Tom Harper at 6:51 PM
44 Comments:
The ferry terminal on the Port Angeles side looks like you're at the express terminal to the concentration camps. Based on that experience, why would anyone coming from Canada want to see the rest of the town?
Money needs to be spent to build a modern ferry terminal and to clean up Railroad Avenue so that it doesn't look like a decrepit collection of empty lots, slimey fastfood outlets and ugly warehouses.
“They just do not have a general understanding of Port Angeles, who we are and what we have to offer.”
Oh bull, I know tons of Canadians, the two cities work with each other a lot and there is plenty of information over there telling them about us and the area.
They simply don't care who we are and what we have to offer. The ones I often talk to in the mountains could care less about the town, it's just something to pass through to get into the mountains and they stop and spend damn little money in PA.
And we likely spend more money trying to get them here than the ones that do visit spend here. Most of them do not come from the island anyway, they come from other areas of Canada.
These nit wits need to stop obsessing about getting tourists here, with the economy the way it is even popular places are hurting for tourists.
They'll just have to get the F*** over it because nothing is going to change for a while. Well, except maybe for the worst.
I've been telling people for five years that this was coming but no body listens to me so F*** 'em.
If they're so smart why are they hurting so much? I don't give a damn if they are 'hurting' and can't afford a new rig this year because the old one is three years old.
I just don't give a damn.
What say I?
I say that this is the saddest thing I have heard all year. I have been looking for an excuse to move my small business and my family to PA (or at least somewhere on the Peninsula) for over a year now. We want to do it for the quality of life issues, but to do it, I have to be able to make a living, too.
While what I do is not tourism related, ultimately almost everything that happens is tourism related, as in supporting those who make their livings in the tourism industry.
(Unless someone finds an industry to move to PA. I didn't think so. Not this week.)
There is a big lesson to be learned here. Some effort is going to have to be made to promote the area. From where I sit, I see none. If anyone is promoting PA, I have not seen or heard the message yet, and I have an ear to the ground waiting for it. Victoria is what they are thanks to a lot of successful advertising and promotion.
It is like any business. You can have the best product in the world. But until someone is there to taste it, it is invisible. You can (and do!) have some of the nicest natural attractions in the world. Yet everyone there is waiting for someone else to start the ball rolling. Until someone does, the only people who will know where Port Angeles is will be those who already live in Clallam County.
It is a vicious circle, but one that must be tackled: To get the local economy moving, we need to let people know that PA exists. To fill the storefronts, you need more than businesses to fill them. More importantly, you need customers to shop at them. People need a reason to come. Heck, they need to know a place exists to know the want to go there.
So, what IS the next step? Whatever it is, it is not a matter of whether it should be done. This story is proof that it must be done now.
As I said in the other thread, Port Angeles has been here, 15 miles away from Victoria, for over 150 years now. If there was anything of interest for them here, they would have figured it out by now.
The Victoria area residents I have talked to about Port Angeles over the last number of years have nothing positive to say about their visits, especially those in the last year or so.
I have been a business owner most of my life, and one thing I learned early on was NOT to open before you were ready to make a great impression. Once "clients" get a bad experience, it is hard to overcome that reputation. (No, that did not happen to my businesses, but I saw it happen to others).
Compared to a row of outhouses, I'll guess Port Angeles looks pretty good, although I'll guess that depends on how badly you need to use the outhouses! People who want to take offense at that comment need to get out of Port Angeles, and travel around a bit to gain perspective.
Before Port Angeles wastes more money trying to promote itself, it should work on creating things for tourists to come here FOR. They came, they saw, they left, and as Tom points out, most were not favorably impressed.
Get a clue!
Forget the Canadians not knowing what's here....what is here? Tell me...I live here, and I wouldn't come here.
bbc...so, "tons of Canadians" is that a few big ones, or a whole lotta little ones?
Well duh! Why should Canadians want to spend money to come to PA.
Speaking of money - I remember when every business in downtown PA had yellow signs that said "Canadian Money Not Accepted." That rude gesture says it all.
Every business in Victoria accepts US money without objection. For some reason they seem to welcome visitors and make the effort to show it. I really do not think PA projects that kind of welcome to visitors.
Like a previous poster said, visitors arrive to a delapidated building and shabby Railroad Ave. It says "we don't really care."
Could the waterfront offer more to tourists? The tiny Hollywood Beach is all there is for public access.
The work for PA is to get it together before trying to promote the place. They blew tons of cash on the parking garage which is not a top notch tourist attraction. Now HarborWorks is trying to make sure the Rayonier site is covered in cement - another gorgeous attraction.
Maybe it is just hopeless.
Census: Small US cities lose luster in downturn.
But I suppose that you will also spot that as you surf the news.
bbc...so, "tons of Canadians" is that a few big ones, or a whole lotta little ones?
Ha ha ha, dats funny, at least I guess it was a stab at humor. That reminds me, generally speaking, Americans are boring. Especially in this locality.
But to answer your question, lotta little ones. You don't see many big ones in the mountains, just trim ones.
I've shared hot spring pools with a number of them that looked good, so did their hooters, ha ha ha
Generally speaking, they are not as prudish as Americans and pretty interesting to talk to.
THIS LINK GOOD FOR TODAY ONLY
A few years ago, during better economic times, I remember talking with a number of hotel/motel owners in the Port Angeles area about business, and all relayed their experiences about visitors who cancelled their reservations after the the first day.
Why? Because people would make reservations for 3 or 4 days based on the ads by the PA Chamber of Commerce that it "The Center of it All", but once they got here.. and walked around.. they saw there was really nothing here. And then they would cancel the rest of the days of their reservation, and leave.
Can you imagine what stories they tell their friends about Port Angeles??
Does this mean they are going to finally fire Russ V? If, after all these years of his "promotional activities", surveys showing 92% of visitors not remembering Port Angeles are not a great job performance assessment!
Great cartoon, BBC.
speaking of how lame this town is...what is the deal with the FUGLY ugly banner that is now strung across Front street? Twilight...okay, great a PADA promotion. But, couldn't they spring a few $$$ and get a sign professionally printed. It is a mess! Totally "mickey moused".
So, let me get this straight...PADA can pay buttloads (too much) for a Welcome to Port Angeles sign (about 4x the going rate...on a no-bid deal with one of their "friends"), but they can't pay for a banner that doesn't look like crap. Even if it is for a second rate movie based on books that depict PA as a rapists hideout. (Seriously, read the book, PA is not painted with a happy brush).
Yep, typical PA marketing. PADA has their head so far up their ass they're looking out their eyes...and thinking the world is fine. (Explains the baby poo color pallate.)
Frankly, my dears, I just don't get the Twilight Twinkies.
Of course I don't get the ducks that are trying to sucker tourists here either, with your money of course, they're damn sure not going to spend much of theirs doing it.
I don't think they'll get the cartoon either. And I still can't buy a f****** tourist hunting permit.
Want an attraction???
That big church just above the high school. How about a cable ride from it slamming the ride into the bay at a 100 MPH.
Monkeys love dangerous stuff like that, ha ha ha
Put that in your pipes and smoke it you silly ducks. *quack quack quack*
Leaders of cities everywhere have Empire Complexes. They all want bigger cities to lord over. It's not about you, it's about them.
This is true.
And I can't support helping hotel owners and such so they can afford much more expensive homes and toys than the folks they hire.
Forget it....
THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING
FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN WA.
ELWHA RIVER AT MCDONALD BRIDGE AFFECTING CLALLAM COUNTY.
DUNGENESS RIVER NEAR SEQUIM AFFECTING CLALLAM COUNTY.
FORECAST FLOODING CHANGED FROM MINOR TO MODERATE SEVERITY.
Yeah, yeah, whatever the fuck, as long as the winds don't get too bad and put the electricity out I don't care.
Oh hell, I don't care about that either, I'll just move to the camper, it's self contained.
I got it, the ducks can invite tourists here to watch it rain. ha ha ha ha ha ha
quack quack quack, hey, that duck has a nice tush.
Bryan K said:
"I say that this is the saddest thing I have heard all year. I have been looking for an excuse to move my small business and my family to PA (or at least somewhere on the Peninsula) for over a year now."
Bryan, I would say that this has been your lucky day! You learned the reality about Port Angeles before losing your money investing in Port Angeles. The many others who have opened businesses here, only to have to close them within a year or so, were not so fortunate.
There are many areas that offer a great quality of life. You may have noticed that NOAA chose NOT to locate their facilities here, despite having port facilities. The reason they cited? Poor quality of life resources.
Do your self and your family a favor, and do more research. There are communities with FAR more potential for happiness and success than Port Angeles.
There are communities with FAR more potential for happiness and success than Port Angeles.
Hey, speak for yourself, I'm one happy bitcher!!!
Man, I just f****** love to bitch, ha ha ha ha
Oh, and I think that you can still get a tour of the old whorehouse that the christians decided to close after deciding that they would rather have their daughters on the streets.
Speaking of the PADA, I actually saw Barb in a downtown shop today. Of course it was the Twilight store, but it does prove that she can stir from her secret underground bunker when she has a mind to do so.
Now if she'd just visit the rest of the stores downtown so she could know what was really going on.
The Twilight store is an escape from reality. Maybe Barb doesn't like reality.
It is after all, stranger than fiction.
No, I doubt that Barb WOULD know what was going on even IF she visited the stores. She doesn't listen. She's in her own world. She always puts her happy talk spin on everything, never investigates, and seems to think that her "job" is to be a cheerleader, instead of an administrator for the association.
And, Russ (Chamber) is too busy preening his ego and trying to figure a new way to get more $$ (raise, raise raise).
Meanwhile.....Canada finds us invisible. Huh. Go figure...what do we have to offer that a few hundred million other small towns all over the country have to offer: small town ideas, dead and boring street, lack of direction, and lots of big fish in a puddle.
I'd say that they need to shut the free needle clinic and revamp their geography classes in HS.
Why should Victoria point to the Olympic Peninsula except to get folks to them?
If we want tourist dollars here, we might try making something to come for, making the harbor and its entry pretty and act like we care about our town.
It might also help to treat folks like they are welcome instead of an inconvenience.
I read in the paper that ACTI is starting to hire, and may sign another contract that leads to more hiring.
Considering the headline is about jobs, the article doesn't say much about these jobs... what type they are, who should apply, etc. But that's the PDN for you.
What caught me eye is this part... "Making an agreement could create a new division to the company and add an additional 150 jobs, he said -- but where the new division would be located is still up in the air.
"I'd love to locate it here, but I'm just not ready to talk about that yet," Rauch said.
The portions of the company now here will remain for the foreseeable future, he added."
I was hoping that ACTI's growth... and PenPly re-opening... would bring a mini-boom to the region. That makes it sound like ACTI is considering other options. Damn.
"Why should Victoria point to the Olympic Peninsula except to get folks to them?"
Good point, Zoe! Isn't that what Port Angeles is trying to do? Trying to use Victoria to get more people to visit Port Angeles?
For some reason, our city manager seems to think Victoria is the answer to Port Angeles' problems. Perhaps it's because he keeps going over THERE. Hmmm..
He has been city manager here for less than a year, and he has been over to Victoria a half a dozen times already. I know Port Angeles residents who have NEVER been over to Victoria!
“They just do not have a general understanding of Port Angeles, who we are and what we have to offer.”
So says Kent Meyers. Um, maybe they really do.
Zoe said...
I'd say that they need to shut the free needle clinic and revamp their geography classes in HS.
Yes. I can see how the Port Angeles free needle exchange program could be part of the problem. You know, with it's location on First street and all. It must be one of the reasons Canadians don't remember their visits to Port Angeles.
And yes, we hear never ending complaints about the teachers. Maybe geography should be placed higher on the WASL?
The portions of the company now here will remain for the foreseeable future, he added."
I was hoping that ACTI's growth... and PenPly re-opening... would bring a mini-boom to the region. That makes it sound like ACTI is considering other options. Damn.
Ya gotta remember, "It's just business". Rauch has to make a profit (or get subsidies from taxpayers), or the whole ball of wax collapses. Perhaps his costs are too high, here? Others in business here seem to say that.
The PDN ran a longer article in Sept. about the plans to hire. The article today was basically a reiteration of that article. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009309309991
I went to Victoria three times last year (only times I've been there in my 11 years here), wasn't interested in the town as it goes even though a lot of it is pretty.
I was interested in the crazy eyed chick, ha ha ha
New topic, still involving Canadians, though. Emailed to me earlier.
"Songhees First Nations sue for large area of land in Victoria
The Songhees First Nation is claiming a large swath of land that takes in part of the Uplands, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Cadboro Bay village, Gyro Park and a ribbon stretching across to Telegraph Cove.
Its claim stems from an allegedly broken promise made 160 years ago and will be tested by a lawsuit filed against the federal and provincial governments.
Lawyer Rory Morahan said the band is not trying to reclaim the land promised to it in one of the Douglas Treaties, but is asking for compensation and a declaration that it is Songhees land.
A statement of claim was filed in B.C. Supreme Court yesterday, but it is likely to be at least a year before the case is heard.
The key to launching the lawsuit was finding historical documents, Morahan said. "There's oral tradition about the village site, but in the courts you need more than oral tradition. We have been working on this for about a year, getting the details down," he said.
The treaty with the Chekonein people, ancestors of the Songhees Nation, specifies that they would have 200 acres (80 hectares) around their Cadboro Bay village site, adjacent to the beach, and about 40 acres (16 hectares) of camas and potato fields.
"Under the treaty, the Songhees ancestors were promised that their village sites and fields would be protected for their use and the use of future generations, and that their villages and fields would be properly surveyed," Morahan said.
The treaty was signed in November 1851. James Douglas, then "chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company and agent of the Imperial Crown," instructed the surveyor to reserve six Indian villages of about 80 hectares each, one of which was the Chekonein village site at Cadboro Bay, he said. Instead, "the colony, or the province, appropriated the lands and issued title to the lands to other parties -- that is, non-aboriginal colonists," said Morahan.
In 2006, the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations accepted a settlement of $31.5 million after filing a lawsuit claiming a chunk of downtown Victoria, including the B.C. legislature lands.
Songhees Chief Robert Sam did not return calls yesterday.
The Songhees First Nation is claiming a large swath of land that takes in part of the Uplands, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Cadboro Bay village, Gyro Park and a ribbon stretching across to Telegraph Cove.
Ah, you mean going back to where it was taken away from them?
Well, they had better get used to living in the old ways again instead of living in the ways they have gotten used to that we, our ancestors, brought here.
Hell, in fifty years Port Angeles will be returned to the natives, those that remember how to survive on the land anyway.
What is that old saying?
What goes around comes around.
Anyway, I'm going camping in a few hours, I like getting out and living in a more native way. Well, in my cozy 5th wheel, ha ha ha
Teach a man to fish and he loses a lot of fishing tackle, it keeps tackle makers employed, who says I don't help support the economy.
The rest of you are in charge while I'm gone.
Opps.
Hi Tom.
I just HAD to come over and see for myself. ;P
Believe me,I feel your pain.
I'm Canadian! I'd come over and visit if I lived close.
Alas.. I'm way over in Ontario.
I HAVE heard of Port Angeles. Anyone that has ever read the Twilight series knows that's where Edward saved Bella from some thugs!
Take care,
((Hugs))
Laura
i tri to giv thum good memri of port angles by talkin to em. thay git angry tho when i ask em for moni.
" I'm way over in Ontario.
I HAVE heard of Port Angeles. Anyone that has ever read the Twilight series knows that's where Edward saved Bella from some thugs!"
Thugs attacking some poor babe in Port Angeles, read by people all over? Ah, yes. Bad press is better than no press, eh?
Reminds me of that national TV show a year or so ago, Trading Spouses, where Port Angeles was also shown in less than desirable ways. (No, I didn't see it.)
In todays' Forbes:
A separate report Thursday found that a rising proportion of fixed-rate home loans made to people with good credit are sinking into foreclosure.
Driven by rising unemployment, such loans accounted for nearly 33 percent of new foreclosures last quarter. That compares with just 21 percent a year ago, when high-risk subprime loans made during the housing boom were the main reason for default.
And the proportion of homeowners with a mortgage who were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure hit a record high for the ninth straight quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.
And the number of newly laid-off American workers seeking unemployment benefits, unchanged last week, remains above the level that would indicate the economy is adding jobs.
Together, the two reports suggested that the lack of job creation is dampening consumer expectations and prospects for an economic rebound. Uneasy consumers likely will curtail their spending, which powers about 70 percent of the U.S. economy.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/11/19/business
And from google:
20 Oct 2009 ... Almost 85% of US consumers will spend less during holidays affected by ... Americans also plan to spend about five percent less ($34.81 vs. ...
www.ecommerce-journal.com/.../24758
I'm sure Port Angeles will be unaffected by these problems. Investors will be flocking here, competing against each other for the opportunity to be part of the Port Angeles success formula!
Reminds me of that national TV show a year or so ago, Trading Spouses, where Port Angeles was also shown in less than desirable ways. (No, I didn't see it.)
... I didn't see it either, but I understand that the show featured karaoke night at DeLaney's. One can only imagine.
The problem is...PA has nothing that a billion other small towns don't already have. It's NOT a tourist attraction. It's NOT a prime industrial area. It's lacking. The only "draw" currently is the Olympic Park...which has a draw for a very, very specific type of tourist: backpacking or motorhome. Neither are huge spenders.
Now, what do we have?
We have lots of labor that isn't too very into working (drugs, drinking, lazy, and/or somehow unwilling to work). Just ask any employer around here how difficult it is to find good help! Try getting someone to mow your lawn, or fix your house -- attitude/ridiculous price/fails to show up
We have a huge ignorance quotient -- people who only know what they've seen on television. And, we are arrogant about the place, the "outsiders" and have the attitude that "anything new is bad".
If we were in the Eastern part of the country they'd call us Hillbillies!
So, now, why are we even talking about WHY Port Angeles is invisible to Canadians? It's obvious: we're nothing special.
And now we have this homeless person posting on this blog. What a bunch of hicks we are. No wonder Canadians are not comin back if "Homeles Jack" is talkin to 'em...I bet his breath really stinks! Ewwwww!
I guess none of you attended the City Council meeting this last Tuesday. HarborWork's Jeff Lincoln gave an update on the progress of the efforts to redevelop the Rayonier mill site.
Listening to what he told the Council, everything is great, and getting better. They are going to be concluding their negotiations with Rayonier by May, which I assume means they expect the taxpayers to be buying that site next year.
Will be interesting to read the reports and studies that have been written to justify THAT scam!
I also saw in todays' paper that both the Olympic Medical Center and Library each voted to raise the tax levy they each get by another 1%. I didn't realize these levies could be increased without a vote of the people.
All the feel-gooders continue to dump huge sums of money at the doorstep of Oly Medical Center...without realizing that the CEO Lewis and others are making HUGE salaries. Maybe some of that money oughta go to other places, like the Salvation Army or the Humane Society.
After HarborWorks buys the Rayonier site, are they going to rename it "The Orville Campbell Field of Dreams" ?
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