POULSBO — Discover how tourism can help local businesses at a special event hosted by the North Kitsap Tourism Consortium, Thursday, June 28. Local North Kitsap businesses owners are invited to attend a free evening with Suzanne Fletcher, executive director of the Washington Tourism Associations (WTA), and other business owners to learn how tourism can help build economic development in North Kitsap and what this means to local businesses.

Suzanne Fletcher and the WTA became the state’s official tourism marketing organization after the closure of the Washington State Tourism Office.  Fletcher was named by Forbes magazine as one of the 25 most influential women in the travel industry for 2008. Tourism is the fourth largest industry in Washington state and Fletcher will be sharing what other communities are doing to increase tourism in their area, thus improving overall economic development.

The North Kitsap Tourism Consortium was formed to help stimulate tourism in North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island. The event, sponsored by the Suquamish Tribe and Port Madison Enterprises, will be an information packed evening addressing the importance of tourism, the opportunities that will be coming up, and what that means for local businesses. Business owners, local government representatives and organizations will gather on June 28 at the Kiana Lodge in Suquamish at 5:30 p.m. Light appetizers and a no-host bar will be available. Please RSVP by June 26 to (360) 297-8074.