Tourism in New York State has rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic, regaining its spot as the top destination for international visitors by 2023.
Agritourism and state park visits in the Finger Lakes and Western New York regions have surged. Agritourism, which includes activities like hayrides and wine tours, has grown significantly, with the Finger Lakes earning over $20,000 from it in 2022. However, tourism-related employment in the region dropped by 11.8% in 2023 compared to 2019, despite a 6.9% rise in wages.
State parks also saw nearly 29 million visitors from 2019 to 2023, with Western New York hosting 825 million of them. Governor Kathy Hochul’s new legislation aims to boost park access and support the tourism industry by removing the mandatory use of credit cards for park facilities as part of her “Get Offline, Go Outside” campaign.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].