Artist Blaine Fontana poses in front of The Dalles mural located at the Mount Hood Railroad.
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce
Travel Oregon unveiled a new campaign Monday to boost tourism during the fall with seven large murals in seven small towns.
Lots of people visit Oregon, particularly from overseas. But that’s during the summer. Fall numbers drop off precipitously.
That’s why Travel Oregon is trying to boost tourism.
The hope is that visitors will travel to see the murals in towns like Roseburg, Ontario and Prineville.
Lisa Farquharson, the head of the Chamber of Commerce in The Dalles, has high hopes for the big salmon and river mural in her town.
“I think this is going to give us a huge boost. But fall is definitely when you start to see that tourism change and those numbers change. And that’s right when our businesses could use that boost before they go into winter,” said Farquharson.
At about $20,000 each, the murals are not cheap.
But Travel Oregon says for every $1 it spends on marketing, the state reaps about $157 from travelers.
The head of Travel Oregon Linea Gagliano says for every $1 they spend on a marketing campaign, about $157 are brought in by travelers.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB