Direct travel spending in Washington state totaled $15.7 billion in 2008, up 5.7 percent from 2007, although after adjusting for inflation, travel spending decreased by 0.1 percent, says a report to the Washington Legislature.

The report, prepared by Dean Runyan Associates, of Portland, Ore., for the Washington state Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, says that in inflation-adjusted dollars, travel spending in Washington state was similar to the pattern for the entire U.S. in 2008. It says the 2008 figure was estimated and subject to revision.

The report says it sought to show the level of spending by those traveling to and through the state and the impact their spending had in terms of earnings, employment, and tax revenue.

An estimated 5.9 million domestic air passengers arrived in Washington in 2008, a figure that was up by less than 1 percent, the report says.

Visitors who stayed overnight in hotels, motels, resorts, and bed-and-breakfasts spent $6.84 billion in 2008, up from $6.5 billion in 2007. Their spending represented roughly half of the amount that all visitors spent once they reached their destinations.

Visitors who were guests in private homes spent $3.26 billion, while those who made day trips to Washington state spent $2.7 billion. Guests who stayed at private campgrounds spent just under $500 million, while visitors who stayed at public campgrounds spent $178 million. Travelers who stayed at vacation homes spent $215 million.

Visitors to the state spent $3.54 billion on ground transportation and fuel; $3.18 billion on food and beverage services; $2.44 billion on lodging; $1.62 billion in retail shops; $1.47 billion on arts, entertainment, and recreation; $807 million on air travel; and $638 million in food stores.

During 2008, travel spending supported directly 149,000 jobs in Washington state that provided earnings of almost $4.34 billion, the report says. Consistent with the flat level of travel spending as reflected in inflation-adjusted dollars, there was no appreciable growth in travel-generated employment.

The report says travel in Washington generated $850 million in direct federal tax receipts, $687 million in state tax receipts, and $318 million in local tax receipts.

It says state and local receipts were up 3.3 percent from 2007.

Travel impact numbers for 2008 for individual counties will be provided later in the year, says the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau.