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Entries from April 30th, 2007

Tourists Make a Billion-Dollar Impact on Northern New York

April 30th, 2007 · 1 Comment · News

Northern New York Tourism Expenditures by Type - SmallThe Northern New York Travel & Tourism Research Center has released the results of the 2006 Economic Impact of Expenditures by Tourists on Northern New York study. Or more simply know as the NNYTTRC’s 2nd EIETNNY study. Funny, but just like a good blog post, titles are everything.

Here are some key points from their press release (PDF):

Tourists Make a Billion-Dollar Impact on Northern New York

  • Tourists spent almost $1.7 billion while visiting the 10 counties of Northern New York last year
  • $187 million in local government revenues
  • 37,000 jobs are supported by both direct and indirect tourist dollars
  • $147.7 million in total state revenue
  • $746 million in wages, salaries and income earned by business owners
  • Without these visitor expenditures, overall unemployment in Northern New York in 2006 would have increased to 19 percent, and local residents’ taxes would have increased an estimated $737 per household in order to maintain government services at current levels
  • Lower Average Daily Rate, Smaller Party Size, Shorter Length of Stay

Adirondack Highlights

  • Tourist expediture $1.25 billion, up 3%
  • Overnight Person Visits up 3%
  • $117 million in local government revenue, up 6%
  • $523 million in wages, salaries and income earned by business owners

This second study was conducted by Davidson-Peterson Associates and provides comparative data to the baseline study done in 2003.

The complete results of this study and previous studies are available on the NNYTTRC’s website in PDF format. Each of the 10 Counties – Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer/Town of Webb, Lewis, Warren, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Oswego – has their own detailed report which contain the results for the entire Northern New York study region, the relevant tourism region (Adirondacks and Thousand Islands), and the county. Other comparative tables also available.

“The Northern New York Travel and Tourism Research Center was created in 2001 in response to the need for tourism research and data collection, as expressed by tourism industry professionals and economic developers in the region.”

I encourage everyone to take a look at their other reports, some really interesting data covering many aspects of our region. What a great resource – a big thanks to Laurie and the rest of the staff there!

Bonus for Adirondack Base Camp readers – Slide Summary – (PPT)

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Adirondack Northway Cellphones

April 29th, 2007 · No Comments · News

The Glens Falls – Post Star is featuring several stories today regarding the ongoing issue of cellphone coverage on the Adirondack Northway. More specifically the lack of available service along the highway which passes through a remote section of the Adirondack Mountains. Recent interest in the issue was renewed after the death of Alfred Langer who drove off the highway, in the middle-of-the-night, during a storm. He and his wife were trapped in their vehicle for several hours before he died and the lack of cellphone coverage has been blamed.

The brokered agreement between the State, cellphone service providers, and environmental groups seems to have satisfied most everyone involved. Including me. I don’t have a cell phone, and I don’t want to subsidize those that do. Frankly, I don’t want to make it easier for people to drive and talk at the same time.

Better to realize the potential hazards of driving on remote roads. In the “old days”, people would prepare themselves for road trips. Somehow this sense of personal responsibility has been replaced by a reliance on others. Don Lehman describes the enhanced police coverage of the stretch of road known as “the Death Zone” and suggests some safety measures:

Being prepared isn’t just for drivers roaming north to northern Warren, Essex and Clinton counties on the Northway, though. Motorists should always have a satchel full of emergency items in their car for situations when help isn’t readily available, police said.

Such a kit should include a flashlight, matches, extra clothing, rugged footwear, basic tools like pliers and a screwdriver, flares and flags, water, ice scraper, tow rope, funnel and a compass.

I doubt that most people even check their spare “donuts” anymore. To that list I would add – snow shovel, gloves, food, lighter, and first-aid kit.

The Post-Star has also asked reader to submit their experiences with cell phones in the Adirondacks. I’d like to remind everyone that the lack of cell coverage, anywhere in the world, has never caused or prevented any driving accidents. On the contrary, the use of cell phones has.

Update: The Post-Star features two more articles again today:

‘They’ve got to do better’

Technology continues to evolve

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Free Adirondack Travel Guides

April 28th, 2007 · No Comments · Destination Marketing

These are the REAL free guides. No cost for you, no cost for me.

Almost a year ago, I mentioned this:

Roughly 10% of unique visitors download an English-language PDF (although this can shoot up to 18% during March, a heavy vacation-planning month).

Consumers prefer PDFs to printed-and-mailed materials – Currently 350-400% more consumers will download a PDF from the site than fill out a form requesting a printed copy be mailed to them.

Of course, that only works if you don’t hide the stuff on a form page.

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