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Photo: Saga Communications/Ellie Coberly

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new study finds Whatcom County tourists are holding onto their wallets a bit tighter during their visits.

Data from analytics website Tourism Economics found that spending decreased by about 0.4% in Whatcom County between 2024 and 2025. That reflects an overall trend in Washington state according to Tourism Economics, with the increase in at 5.3% in 2024 versus 0.9% in 2025.

Despite the slight drop, commerce still exceeds pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels considerably (approximately $555 million in 2019).

Visitors budgeted the most for accommodations and hotels, which saw a $50-per-person increase last year compared to 2024.

Both years saw about 3.49 million people visit Whatcom County, despite cross-border tensions and a decline in Canadian tourists.

The report also notes tourists spent more on food, beverage and recreation in 2025 than in previous years.

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