Tourism is so important to New York state\u2019s economy, that without it households would be paying $1,100 more in taxes annually, according to the top state tourism official.
\nRoss Levi, executive director of tourism for Empire State Development, made the statement in his remarks at the EDC Warren County\u2019s annual lunch held n May at the Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury.
\nHe said tourism is responsible for one out of every 10 jobs in the state and in 2017, generated some $8.5 billion in both state and local taxes.
\nTourism supported nearly a million jobs in 2018 he noted.
\nLevi said it\u2019s important that the state keeps investing money in tourism, which is economic development too. Over a five-year period, from 2013 to 2018, state tourism funding has increased from $30 million to almost $60 million.
\nLevi said $15 million in state grants is available for local municipalities and tourist attractions. Roughly $7 million is for regional tourism marketing and $8 million for capital improvements.
\nHe said the state works with partners including tourism promoters, trade associations, local governments and the attractions themselves. Officials are targeting people who live within a five-hour drive of New York.
\nSome international marketing is also done.
\nLevi mentioned the promotion of the craft beverage industry, including breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries. Those businesses have been on the increase in the Lake George\/Glens Falls area, as well as Saratoga County.
\nNew initiatives include targeted marketing toward seniors and making sure that New York is handicapped accessible, he said. The state also stresses family activities in its promotions.
\n\u201cThe number one reason people travel is to spend time with the people they love,\u201d Levi said.
\nThere is a large focus on the state level on the ILoveNY.com website, which is designed to create a far-reaching promotional pull. Levi encouraged local attractions to contact the state to help promote their businesses at beat@esd.ny.gov.
\nLevi was promoted to the executive director of tourism in 017. He leads the iconic I LOVE NEW YORK tourism program and helps coordinate marketing efforts to increase awareness and promote statewide tourism visitation.
\nAlso at the event, the EDC presented a Lifetime Achievement Award, posthumously, to Robert Flacke.
\nFlacke was once chairman of the Adirondack Park Agency and a commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. He owned the Fort William Henry Resort for many years and was a longtime tourism advocate in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tourism is so important to New York state\u2019s economy, that without it households would be paying $1,100 more in taxes annually, according to the top state tourism official. Ross Levi, executive director of tourism for Empire State Development, made the statement in his remarks at the EDC Warren County\u2019s annual lunch held n May at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n