Walla Walla withstood downturn

WALLA WALLA – The start of a recession apparently didn’t faze tourists heading into Walla Walla last year.

Visitors spent a record $91.4 million in their travels to the community in 2008, according to new figures released by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

Tourism officials say visitors weren’t deterred by the economy until the last two months of the year, a downturn that will more likely be reflected when next year’s report details the 2009 picture, said Tourism Walla Walla Chief Executive Officer Michael Davidson.

Davidson said the numbers didn’t begin to drop until last November. That was the first month since Tourism Walla Walla began operations in 2005 that the number of rooms sold decreased from the previous year.