New York State has released its Tourism Economics research study for 2017, which provides analyses on the economic impact of tourism across the state, and the numbers are positive once again.
The report, "The Economic Impact of Tourism in New York," says traveler spending overall in the Greater Niagara Region - which includes Erie, Niagara Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties - was up 5.5 percent, representing a $2.7 billion industry that supports 53, 168 jobs. Erie County's slice of those sales amounts to 67 percent, with nearly $1.8 billion in traveler spending.
Destination Niagara USA broke down the figures for Niagara County. It says total traveler spend in 2017 surpassed $708 million, which is an increase of nearly 9 percent over 2016. That figure has grown significantly over the last five years. In the 2013 report, tourism revenue in the county was only $525 million.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the results shown in this latest report and by the continued growth of the tourism industry here in Niagara County," said Destination Niagara President and CEO John Percy. "To see a nearly 35 percent increase in tourism spending over the last five years is further evidence that the investments being made in downtown Niagara Falls and across the county combined with our strategic marketing efforts are paying off in an extremely significant way.”
The report says the state’s tourism economy expanded in 2017 with 4.4 percent growth in traveler spending, reaching a new high of $67.6 billion, which is 27 percent above the state’s pre-recession peak set in 2008. Room demand expanded nearly 4 percent, while passenger counts at all airports increased 2.3 percent.
You can read the report here.
