Sep 19, 2019
Wyoming County Chamber & Tourism continues to successfully grow the tourism economy in Wyoming County – supporting hundreds of tourism businesses throughout the county. According to the state’s recent tourism report, the Wyoming County tourism program continued its momentum of previous successes by reaching out to more visitors with new promotions, targeted marketing, and strong partnerships.
According to the state’s recently released data from Tourism Economics, New York State’s tourism economy expanded in 2018 with 6.2% growth in traveler spending, reaching a new high of $71.8 billion—35% above the state’s pre-recession peak set in 2008. Tourism in the Greater Niagara region, where Wyoming County is located, is a $2.8 billion industry, increasing 4.2% over last year and supporting 53,009 jobs.
This latest report shows that Wyoming County’s tourism impact is up 7.2% representing $49.6 million in traveler spending up over 2017 levels. Wyoming County is also the highest in terms of growth year over year in the Greater Niagara region. Travelers are spending in several categories with Food and Beverage at $13.9 million leading the way, then second homes at $11.5 million, retails sales at $8.9 million, recreation at $8.1 million, lodging at $5.6 million and transportation at $1.6 million.
“I would like to applaud the many tourism businesses across Wyoming County who have invested and work tirelessly to grow their businesses. I would also recognize the effort of the staff and board of directors who put together a strong tourism program for our County,” said Scott Gardner, President and CEO of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. “We must also recognize state leaders for continuing to wisely invest in New York’s tourism industry as an economic driver and thank the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors for continuing to support our efforts to strengthen the tourism sector in Wyoming County.”
“The state’s report is exceptional news for Wyoming County and reflects all of the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit our tourism partners invest in making this a tourism destination. From the beautiful splendor of Letchworth State Park, to our outstanding restaurants, attractions, events and landscapes, Wyoming County is a great place to recreate,” said Eric Szucs, Director of Tourism and Marketing at the Wyoming County Chamber and Tourism office. “It’s awesome knowing the work we’re doing to tell our story and share the experiential nature of our County and region is attracting visitors from across the globe.”
The report also details the effect of tourism on employment and shows that between direct, indirect and induced, Wyoming County’s total labor income is $27.2 million. Further, the impact of tourism on the Wyoming County tax base is very important. Between state and local taxes generated from tourism, Wyoming County is collecting $5.8 million, which translates to savings for county taxpayers. Were it not for tourism-generated state and local taxes, the average household in Wyoming County would have to pay an additional $368 per year to maintain the same level of government revenue. For the Greater Niagara region, that number jumps to $634 per household on average.
Tourism Economics, headquartered in Philadelphia, is an Oxford Economics company dedicated to providing high value, robust, and relevant analyses of the tourism sector that reflects the dynamics of local and global economies. By combining quantitative methods with industry knowledge, Tourism Economics designs custom market strategies, project feasibility analysis, tourism forecasting models, tourism policy analysis, and economic impact studies. Oxford Economics is one of the world’s leading providers of economic analysis, forecasts and consulting advice. For more information email: info@tourismeconomics.com.
For more information, or to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce, please call 585-786-0307 or visit the website at wycochamber.org or gowyomingcountyny.com.