The Central Oregon economy has been struggling, but tourism remains a bright spot.
Michael Clapp / OPB
A canoe on Mirror Pond (file)
KTVZ reports that the growth of the tourism industry in Bend can be seen through a city-collected tax on hotels and other short-term lodging.
Room tax collections topped $3.5 million this past fiscal year — a record high in Bend. The figure also represents a 7.4 percent increase over the last fiscal year.
Visit Bend President and CEO Doug LaPlaca tells the station that people are mostly coming to Bend for sightseeing and the year-round outdoor recreation.
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Information from: KTVZ-TV, http://www.ktvz.com/
