ARLINGTON — Tourism is economic development.

That was the message that Amy Spain, executive director of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, delivered to the Arlington City Council April 11.

Spain estimated that visitors to Washington state spent $19.5 billion in 2014, generating $1.7 billion in local and state tax revenues, along with 163,450 jobs.

By contrast, Washington’s 2013-2015 budget set aside only $481,000 for tourism, in stark contrast to the $7 million spent by Idaho, $12 million by Oregon and $53 million by British Columbia.

“We don’t even have a state tourism office,” said Spain, who noted that the state legislature pulled a proposal for one in 2015 and denied the funding for one this year.

Spain noted that tourism dollars support not only lodging and transportation, but also restaurants, retail and other attractions, which is why she’d like to see the state spend $7.5 million.

“It wouldn’t really make us competitive, but it would at least get us in the game,” Spain said.

Spain explained how Snohomish County’s overnight tourism statistics compare to the state as a whole. While the county’s average of two people per travel party is slightly below the state average, county visitors stay nearly three nights on average, as opposed to two and a half for the state.

And while state tourists spend $468 per travel party per day, that number increases to $512 for county tourists, which is how Snohomish County generated $992.9 million from visitors in 2014, up 5.7 percent from the previous year.

“Tourism works for Snohomish County,” Spain said. “Our visitors spend more, and not just on accommodations.”

In 2014, this created 10,340 jobs in Snohomish County, with a $256.4 million payroll, $31.2 million in local taxes and $48.8 million in state taxes.

Spain reported that tourism-related websites for the county saw a 3 percent increase in visits, with more than 6,400 visits to the RoomsAtPar and StayShoAndSave sites.

“We’re very active on social media,” Spain said.

Councilman Chris Raezer asked, “I hear tourism is Washington state’s fourth-largest export?”

Spain confirmed this, but speculated that its lack of traction in the legislature might be because tourism encompasses a broad spectrum of services.

“It’s not one single entity, and that’s harder to wrap your hands around,” Spain said.