Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that New York State welcomed a record-setting 306.3 million visitors in 2023 while also achieving historic highs for direct visitor spending and total economic impact associated with the state's tourism industry.
The data, compiled by Tourism Economics, showcases significant growth compared to previous years and surpasses pre-pandemic levels. Visitors to New York State contributed to a record-high $88 billion in direct spending supporting a historic $137 billion in total economic impact across the state. These numbers represent an 11% increase in total economic impact and a nearly 12% rise in direct visitor spending compared to 2022.
Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of tourism to the state, stating, "New York state is synonymous with tourism; it's part of the fabric, history, and economy of our incredibly diverse state. As we approach the fall foliage and travel season, we are welcoming more visitors than ever, and their presence is supporting businesses and communities in every corner of the state."
The Greater Niagara region experienced significant growth in visitor spending and tourism-related employment. Visitor spending in the region reached $3.8 billion, which is an 11% increase from 2022. The region also saw a rise in tourism-related employment with 48,587 jobs created accounting for 8.4% of all jobs in the region.
Niagara County led the spending improvement with nearly 12% growth compared to 2022. Tourism in the Greater Niagara region generated $402 million in state and local taxes with Erie County contributing the majority at 65.4% and Niagara County at 27.3%.
The reports by Tourism Economics revealed sustained growth in all 11 vacation regions of the state, with the Finger Lakes, Greater Niagara region, Long Island, and New York City experiencing visitor spending increases of over 10%. While domestic visitor spending remains dominant, spending from Canadian and overseas visitors showed faster growth than domestic travelers.
New York Sets Tourism Records with Best Ever Visitor, Economic Numbers