Tourism Advocacy Talking Points

Access NYSTIA's Action Center to research legislation and contact your elected representatives.

View tourism's economic impact by county

Download our Tourism Done Right presentation template

Access the New Yorkers: Take Your Vacation! Toolkit

Making the Case for Tourism

Let your voice be heard, it's up to YOU to advocate for your industry! Make tourism advocacy a part of your daily mission. Whether you are meeting with local residents, businesses, civic, corporate or elected leadership, you can be the missionary be 'preaching the gospel' of tourism and rallying support for your tourism budgets and promotion.

Tourism is Not the Goal... It is the Means to an End

Tourism done right drives responsible, sustainable economic growth! Tourism done right drives local job creation, small business success, community revitalization, increased local and state tax revenues, all resulting in improved standard of living, quality of life and pride of place for New York State communities and residents.

The multitude of ways tourism growth benefits our state, our local communities, businesses and residents is a great and largely untold story.

Don't ask for support for tourism, make your case by asking for support for the desirable outcomes that tourism growth can deliver for your destination communities!

Tourism is a New York State Success Story

Tourism is BIG BUSINESS! And 2023 was New York's Best Year Ever! Tourism has grown to be New York's third largest private sector industry!

Tourism Facts at a Glance

Tourism brought 306 million visitors to New York State in 2023, creating a major economic impact:

  • Direct spending by travelers: $88 Billion;
  • State & local tax revenues generated: $11 Billion
  • Total Economic Impact: $137 Billion;
  • Total Labor Income: $44 Billion

*Source: Empire State Development, I LOVE NEW YORK & Tourism Economics

The Tourism Budget is an Investment that Generates Financial Returns

Don't just ask for support... present your case! Our greatest asset in tourism advocacy is our ability to provide a strong, reasoned and logical case that state and local investments in tourism generate real financial returns for New York State and its residents:

  • Increased tax revenues for government at the state and local level, reducing the burden on local residents.
  • Job and payroll growth for NYS residents, support for local businesses and communities.
  • Public and private sector infrastructure improvements that enhance quality of life and pride of place.

Join NYSTIA's Advocacy Action Center

Welcome! Please join our advocacy outreach community. Add your contact information using our 'Welcome Petition' so that you will be invited to participate in future tourism advocacy efforts: