MUKILTEO — After getting off to a great start in 2008, one of Snohomish County’s top tourist attraction’s hit a snag.
“We were on track for a 200,000-visitor year,” said Sandy Ward, marketing director at the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour.
Attendance was up 6 percent through the first eight months of last year. But the Boeing Machinists went on strike in early September, putting an end to tours of the jet maker’s factory run in connection with the Future of Flight. Two months later, the labor dispute ended and tours resumed, but the economy had a choke hold on tourism.
During the two-month strike by Machinists, the center offered an alternate tour at a reduced price. About 12,000 people visited the Future of Flight in September and October, compared to 32,000 visitors during those months in 2007. Tour groups tied to cruises based in Seattle stopped bringing visitors to the center during the labor dispute.
Overall, the Future of Flight finished 2008 with an 8.6 percent decline in visitors, bringing in 170,528 people compared to 186,625 in 2007.
The first few weeks of 2009 don’t indicate a strong resurgence in visitors to the aviation center. However, some markets show more promise for the new year. Attendance from visitors from China and Mexico isup.
“We’re still going to work on those markets,” Ward said.
Tourism is expected to drop this year with people spending vacation time closer to home. The Future of Flight plans to target that audience as well, with upcoming promotions for local residents as well as members of the military, AAA or airline industry. The flight center also has forged partnerships with several local hotels, offering discounts for hotel guests.
If the economy continues to weaken, Ward anticipates the Future of Flight also will see a decline in facilities rentals. The center rents out meeting and special events space. In 2008, there were 244 meetings or events held at the Future of Flight, down from 306 in 2007.
The drop in space rental last year can be tied not only to the Machinists’ strike but also to deferred aircraft deliveries, the delay in Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and canceled Christmas parties due to the December snow and tough economy.
The Future of Flight has added a projection screen on its gallery floor, used mainly for delivery ceremonies when airlines receive an aircraft from Boeing. The flight center could see a few major delivery ceremonies this year including the first delivery of a Boeing 777 Freighter.
Ward also anticipates increased Future of Flight attendance around the time of the first flight of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
The aerospace company expects to fly its newest jet in the second quarter of 2009.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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