The Peru Gazette

Strong Tourism Numbers are being seen for the 2018 Summer Season

Plattsburgh, NY (8/1/2018) – Governor Cuomo’s office recently announced that New York State’s investment in tourism is paying BIG dividends.  I Love NY released their Economic Impact Study showing the effect tourism has on New York State, the region, and Clinton County.

New York State Tourism

• The industry generated $8.5 billion in State and local sales taxes, saving each NYS household roughly $1,172 in taxes
• Visitor spending was at $67.8 billion (up  5% from 2016)
•  US domestic markets supplied 70% ($47.2 billion) of visitors while international travelers made up 30% of visitors spending ($20.4 billion)

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “The state’s tourism industry continues to reach unprecedented heights, supporting job creation, small business growth and regional economies statewide. Through events like the Adirondack Challenge, we continue to encourage visitors to plan a trip and experience all there is to see and do in New York State.”

Clinton County Tourism
Along with the state tourism spending breakdowns, the study also shows how the counties in the Adirondacks are stacking up.  Once again, Clinton County Tourism boasts some very impressive economic impact numbers for 2017, contributing greatly to overall tourism spending and to local and state sales tax.   This shows that the county is a very viable player in the tourism make-up of the Adirondack region:

• $136,424,000 in tourism spending (up 5% over 2016)
• Collecting over $7,502,548 in state taxes (up 3% over 2016)
• Contributing over $9,354,516 in local taxes (up 7% over 2016)

These numbers are ahead of 2016 and show that our Canadian visitors are still crossing the border to consume goods.  This speaks volumes to the ideology that the Adirondack Coast is a value-added destination and a long-standing tradition for our neighbors to the north.

Kristy Kennedy, Director of Tourism at the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau and North Country Chamber of Commerce as well as The Tourism Promotion Agency for Clinton County via I Love NY, states, “These are welcome numbers for Clinton County tourism.  They speak highly for the marketing programs we are implementing daily and show our strong relationship with our Canadian visitors. I could not be more pleased to see the strong showing for Clinton County and can only imagine the positive numbers 2018 will bring.”

2018 Statistics for Clinton County to date

Here is what we are seeing so far (January – June):

• Clinton County Sales Tax is up 6% over last year’s collection
• Clinton County Sales Tax collection is up 8% over 2018 projections
• May passenger car crossings at the border in Champlain were up 11% over 2017
• June passenger car crossings at the border in Champlain were up 9% over 2017
• Occupancy Tax collection is up 12% over last year (a record year)
• The ILNY Gateway Information Center at Beekmantown (Exit 40) visitations are up 128%

“Through both marketing and relationship building, we work every day to broaden and deepen our region’s connections with Quebec, and the border crossing numbers this year show that our strategies are working,” states Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Despite the exchange rate and shared concerns over trade actions, the bonds which have been created between Montreal and the Plattsburgh area are especially strong. And our attractions and assets are stronger than ever. Most importantly, Quebecers receive a warm welcome here and we must all be part of making sure that is always the case. Besides supporting jobs, sales tax receipts and the ability for locals to enjoy a variety of retail and hospitality businesses we would not enjoy otherwise, they make us a uniquely international place with the special benefits of cross-border friendship.”