·        Economic Impact of Tourism on Northern New York Study

      The purpose of the Economic Impact Study is to place a dollar value on tourist activity in the region.  A baseline study was conducted in 2003 and a second, comparative study was conducted in 2006 and released in 2007.

Uses
Information generated by this study is useful in documenting the importance of tourism to the region’s economy, tracking the results of marketing efforts, and justifying the need for promotional expenditures to increase tourism.

Method
The Tourism Research Center contracted with a nationally-known firm experienced in tourism economic impact research – Davidson-Peterson Associates   - to oversee this study.  Data was collected by surveying visitors about their spending, surveying lodging owners about occupancy, and surveying residents about visiting family and friends.  This raw data is then plugged into a formula that determines economic impact. 

Results
The final results of the 2006 study, released in April, 2007, showed that tourists to northern New York spent almost $1.7 billion in 2006.  Those expenditures translate into an economic impact of over $187 million in local government revenues and over $147 million in state revenues.  Additionally, the study showed that an estimated 37,000 jobs are supported by both direct and indirect tourist dollars across northern New York, and visitor expenditures resulted in an estimated $746 million in wages and income earned by business owners in 2006.

This compares to visitor expenditures of $1.57 billion in 2003 with an economic impact of $149.9 million in local government revenues and $114.8 million in state revenues in 2003.  The previous study showed that 35,000 jobs were supported by tourism in 2003 and visitor expenditures results in an estimated $662 million in wages and earned income.

The study results are expressed for northern New York as a whole, for the Thousand Islands region (St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Oswego counties), for the Adirondack region (Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren, Hamilton, Lewis and Town of Webb in Herkimer) and for each of the ten counties individually.  The data is separated into ten county reports, which contain all of the regional information, plus the information particular to that county.  These reports are available for download in the Reports section of this website. 

·        County Tourism Profiles

     Statistical tourism “profiles” for each of the ten counties in northern New York have been created.  These profiles use several potential indicator categories of information to provide users with a statistical view of the tourism industry in each county and – to a limited extent – its effects on the local economy. 

Uses 

This data can be used by entrepreneurs when creating business plans, by economic developers in tourism-related business recruitment, and by community leaders to assist in planning and zoning efforts, strategic planning, and as a tool for smart growth.

Method

The information contained in these profiles was compiled primarily from data available through public agencies.  In some instances percentages were calculated and comparison charts were created by the Tourism Research Center to better illustrate certain points.  Please note when comparing different categories, that data is released by sources at different times and for different years and sometimes using different parameters.  Sources for each category are cited.

Results

The statistical County Tourism Profiles contain identical categories for all ten northern New York counties.  They can be found and printed in the Reports section of this website.  Each profile is approximately 12-13 pages long.  Accompanying taxable sales and per capita income and sales spreadsheets (one page each) should also be printed to complete the profile.

·        Summer Season Business Survey

      The purpose of this survey was to gather some actual facts and figures related to business owners’ opinions of the number of visitors in the region between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 2003.

Uses
Done seasonally, this study will be useful in comparing the tourism business climate from year to year.  It will also show to what business owners attribute the increase or decrease in their business and how satisfied they were with their income in a given season.

 Method
A telephone survey was conducted of a sample of approximately 300 regional attractions and lodging properties.  Owners/managers were asked six questions, including whether or not the number of visitors to their facility was up or down as compared to last summer, by what estimated percentage, and to what they attributed the increase, decrease or stability of their numbers.

Results
A Fact Sheet on the results of this survey can be found in the Reports section of this website.     

·        Occupancy Survey

      The purpose of the on-going Occupancy Survey was to collect data relative to lodging property occupancy rates in all types of lodging facilities throughout the region.  The intent was to analyze the data to see what types of lodging properties are successful and to key in on the differences between properties that are more successful and those that are less so.     

Uses
Lodging owners can use this data to gauge how well their property is doing compared to others in the region or others of a similar type.  Occupancy figures can also be used by lodging owners to help support financial requests to improve or expand facilities, to assist in targeted marking, or to demonstrate success when the time comes to sell the property. 

Method
A sample of lodging properties throughout the region were asked to complete a  confidential monthly occupancy survey form which was mailed to them.  They also had the option of completing the form on-line on this website.  Lodging owners were asked how many rooms they had available for rent that month, the total number of rooms they sold that month, and the average daily rate.  All information is kept strictly confidential.  Research Center staff used the figures to calculate monthly occupancy rates.

Results
We began the Occupancy Survey in January of 2003, but participation has been too low to yield any valid results.  Of the total number of lodging properties in the 10-county region, Occupancy Survey participation rates from January through August, 2003 have ranged from 3.2% - 10.6%.  See the Reports section of the website for a table of the occupancy rates based on this extremely small sample.  Due to the low participation in this voluntary study, in January of 2004 it was decided to discontinue this effort. 

Current Projects Underway:

• Competitive Analysis:  Best Practices in Rural Communities that have Achieved Significant Tourism Development

 By studying other, geographically and economically similar communities in the northeast/Great Lakes region that have successfully implemented tourism development strategies, we will learn from their example.  Specifically, looking at the “best practices” of these other communities, we will determine what needs to be in place for tourism development to happen in terms of infrastructure, incentives, financing, product inventory, etc.  Based on the best practices discovered in these communities, specific recommendations will be made relative to what northern New York needs to do in order to make tourism development happen here.