New York tourism achieved a significant milestone last year with a record-breaking 306 million visitors, marking the highest number in the state’s history. Governor Kathy Hochul made the announcement during a visit to the New York State Fair on Aug. 28, highlighting the remarkable economic impact of tourism in the state. Visitors spent a record $88 billion on various expenses, contributing to a total economic impact of $137 billion, as stated by Hochul.
Domestic visitors played a crucial role in the post-pandemic recovery of New York’s tourism economy. Their spending surged to $88 billion last year, a substantial increase from $78 billion in 2022 and $53 billion in 2019. In contrast, international visitors’ spending remained below pre-pandemic levels.
The reports published by Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency, indicate that over a third of the direct tourism spending in New York last year went towards lodging, with significant amounts also allocated to food, retail, transportation, and recreation. This spending generated $49 billion in indirect economic impact and nearly $11 billion in state and local tax revenues.
New York City continues to dominate the state’s tourism economy, with three in five dollars spent by tourists historically being within the city. However, regions outside of New York City and Long Island also saw substantial visitor spending, with Central New York leading among upstate regions last year, followed by Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, and Niagara.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, New York’s tourism sector is showing resilience and growth, with regions like Central New York experiencing significant increases in visitor spending. The Adirondacks and Catskills regions remain vital to the state’s tourism sector, particularly in terms of job markets.
