Canandaigua, NY – The economic impact of tourism and hospitality in Ontario County is more than $341 million, according to data compiled as part of the Tourism Economics report, recently released by I Love NY and Empire State Development.
Ontario County saw a 11.7% growth over 2022 in traveler spending, the second largest growth in the Finger Lakes Region. As for tax revenues, Ontario County contributed a 10.2% state tax growth and a 9.3% local tax growth, again, the second highest in the region, thanks to consumer spending at hotels, food and beverage businesses, recreation, entertainment and retail outlets throughout the county.
Traveler spending is measured in the following categories:
Lodging - $98 million
Entertainment and Recreation - $16 million
Food and Beverage - $138 million
Retail and Service Stations - $44 million
Transportation - $20 million
Second Homes – $23 million
According to Valerie Knoblauch, President of Ontario County’s tourism promotion agency, “to reach these new levels of growth is exciting – and of course rewarding financially for our residents. Every dollar that a visitor brings to our county, saves the average Ontario County household $873 in taxes which provide essential local services.” “Plus,” she continued, “the bonus effect is that our visitor industry development sets the stage for Ontario County and our communities as a great place to live and to grow a business. This wouldn’t happen without a thriving, forward leaning visitor economy.”
The tourism industry is also responsible for 4,696 total jobs in Ontario County, the largest outside of the metropolitan areas of Rochester and Syracuse. This represents 9% of the region’s employment base. Tourism in Ontario County generated $157 million in direct, indirect and induced labor income. This number, according to Mrs. Knoblauch, “is as
important as tax revenues because tourism labor income - represents the vitality of dollars that are created by employment which are reinvested through our economy in local stores, services, and housing.” In other words, the more people we have employed earning higher wages, the more potential for our economy. Jobs equal wages which generate spending which create more jobs and a better lifestyle for all.”
In 2023, tourism’s economic impact was $4.382 billion in the 14-county Finger Lakes region. Ontario County’s contribution is 8% of the total for the region, largest behind Rochester (Monroe County) and Syracuse (Onondaga County). New York State tourism generated $88 billion in direct spending and $137 billion in total economic impact, exceeding previous highs in 2022.
Empire State Development annually engages Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, to do a statewide study that provides data year-over-year on the impact of the visitor economy. The data is statewide, regional and at the county level. A link is provided at VisitFingerLakes.com/partners/research-and-resources/visitor-profiles-visitation-economic-impact/
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About Finger Lakes Visitors Connection
Finger Lakes Visitors Connection is the tourism promotion and management agency for Ontario County. Our mission is to curate, distinguish, and develop Ontario County’s destination brand to inspire travel that creates economic vitality for our stakeholders and communities, and provides quality of life benefits for our residents.