SWOT Analysis — Linn County's Tourism Industry

This is an informal SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats) analysis of tourism industry in Linn County, Oregon.

Tourism Industry Facilities and Attractions in Linn County

Tourist lodging

• Almost no quality tourist lodging exists in this huge county, outside of Albany.

Major tourism events outside of Albany

• Only One — Sweet Home’s Oregon Jamboree. This event draws mainly RVs and campers. Jamboree RV parking and campgrounds are mainly temporary fields and parking lots. Jamboree does not have an official arena or area.
• Other multi-day events — Small. Draw mainly county and near county visitors on day trips.

Convention centers

• No convention centers outside of Albany.

Adventure tourism

• Potential – Low,
• Developed – Low (Forest Service hiking trails, Hoodoo Ski Bowl),
• Marketing – Low

Agri-tourism — Increasing growth sector nationally

• Potential – Low-Moderate,
• Developed – Minimal,
• Marketing – Minimal

Driving & biking tourism

• Potential – Low-Moderate,
• Developed – Low (Covered bridges [9-Scio, Sweet Home, Crawfordsville] – need more maps & signage, Scenic byways – One – Hwy 228/Hwy 20, County loops Two – Santiam Loop [Hwy 226-Hwy 22-Hwy 20 loop], Peoria Loop [Peoria Rd-99E Loop]),
• Marketing – Low

Eco-tourism

Entertainment tourism

• Weakness (need casino)

Event tourism

• Potential – Low,
• Developed — Low/Moderate (Oregon Jamboree, Wah Chang Northwest Art & Air Festival, Smaller events at Linn Co Fair & Expo Center)
• Marketing — Low/Moderate<

Foreign tourism

Food/ culinary tourism

Heritage-Cultural-Historical tourism — Increasing growth sector nationally — Target Market – Baby Boomers

• Potential – Low-Moderate (Historic districts & homes in Albany, Boston Mill-Shedd, entire Town of Brownsville – Museums, small [Brownsville, Albany, Scio, Sweet Home], nine Covered Bridges),
• Developed – low,
• Marketing – Minimal (mainly in Albany and some for Brownsville)

Movie tourism

• Potential – Minimal – One movie shot in Brownsville, Some movie stars live, visit, or were from county
• Marketing – Minimal

Outdoor recreation tourism

• Potential – Moderate,
• Developed – Moderate,
• Marketing – Low

Railroad tourism

• Potential – Low-Moderate,
  – Railroad aspects/museums/rail cars & depots (Brownsville, Scio, Albany, Harrisburg, Lebanon)
  – Small railroads (Lebanon, Hwy 226 toward Lyons)
• Developed – Low
• Marketing – Minimal-Low

Sport tourism

Tour tourism

• Potential – Low-Moderate,
• Developed– Low

Wildlife/birding/nature tourism

• Potential – Low-Moderate,
• Developed – Low,
• Marketing – Low

Shopping tourism — None

Wine tourism — None

Transportation

I-5 Corridor & 99E

• Major strength

Hwy 20, Hwy 22

• Strengths — Heavily traveled cross Cascades routes, Highly scenic, Great outdoor recreation
• Weakness — Not marketed well

Hwy 20, Hwy 34

• Strengths — Heavily traveled valley to coast routes, Very scenic (old rural Oregon)
• Weakness — Not marketed well

Marketing

Branding

• Weakness
• Opportunity

Infrastructure

• Weakness – Lacking official county-wide organization

Political Support & Awareness

• Weakness – Needs development at state and county level

Community Support & Awareness

• Weakness – Needs development

Industry Business Factors

Uniqueness

• Possible strength

Seasonality

• Possible strengths for some aspects

Short distance travel potential

Strengths –

• OSU just across river,
• 800,000 people within 50 miles,
• Portland metro within easy driving for weekend stay