Tourism Summit Generates New Ideas to Bring More Visitors to New York State
Governor: NYS Tourism Equals Business

Albany, N.Y. (May 8, 2014) - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of New York’s largest tourism campaign in decades, committing nearly $60 million to grow the industry, create jobs and attract even more visitors to the Empire State.

The Governor’s announcement came at the conclusion of the New York State Tourism Summit, where hundreds of tourism experts gathered in Albany to discuss ideas and new ways to bring tourists to every corner of the state. As the fifth largest employment sector in New York, tourism supported 714,000 jobs and generated more than $29 billion in wages in 2012. One out of every 12 jobs in New York is tourism-related. The more than 202 million international and domestic visitors to the Empire State last year resulted in $57 billion in direct tourism spending, and generated $7 billion in state and local taxes.

“New York State has some of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the world. From the peaks of the Adirondacks to the beaches of Long Island, no matter what you’re looking for you can find it here,” Governor Cuomo said. “I want the world to know about these assets, too, and am committed to making the State a ‘must see’ global destination and creating new jobs and investments in New York.” Read more »

Hauppauge, N.Y. - Request the official 2013 Long Island Travel Guide and start exploring all the great things to see and do on Long Island. The 68-page Travel Guide makes it easy. Call 1-877-386-6654, ext. 210 to request a guide, map, brochures and the spring Calendar of Events. Or order a copy of the Travel Guide at: www.discoverlongisland.com/explore/plan/choose_your_guide.aspx

Discover some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Find info on camping, pick-your-own farms, kayaking and more. Explore Long Island Wine Country, recently named one of the top wine regions in the world by Wine Enthusiast magazine, or play a round on a championship golf course, including Bethpage Black, site of the 2009 US Open. Read more »

Albany, N.Y. - As spring spreads its warmth across New York State, festivals and activities celebrating the state’s bounty, outdoor attractions and heritage are sprouting up. New York State ranks among the top wine, fruit, dairy and berry producing states in the nation, and farms, wineries and breweries across the state are increasingly opening their doors to visitors. Factor in its protected wilderness–more state-designated wilderness land than any state (except Alaska)-and New York State’s many pivotal roles in the history of the country, it’s easy to see why the season of awakening is filled with activities for visitors.
 
What follows is just a sampling of the many festivals and special events happening statewide this spring: Read more »

Columbus Day Weekend offers peak leaf peeping in Adirondacks, Catskills, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Central New York regions

This is the fourth 2012 FALL COLOR REPORT for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. FALL COLOR REPORTS are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Albany, N.Y. - Leaf peeping and Columbus Day weekend go hand in hand, and this year’s holiday weekend will offer some of the best foliage viewing opportunities in New York State in years, according to observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program. Peak colors are spreading from the Adirondacks to the Catskills, the Chautauqua-Allegheny and Central New York regions, with near-peak and midpoint color in many other areas. Read more »

Albany, N.Y. — Autumn in New York State is a glorious season for lovers of farm-fresh food, fine wines, toe-tapping music and family-friendly fun. As the air turns crisp and trees don their stunning fall cloaks of color, the state comes alive with harvest festivals celebrating everything from apples and pumpkins to wine and cheese.
 
On fall weekends when there’s no official festival on tap, it’s easy to find pick-your-own fruit orchards and pumpkin patches. Many provide added enticements to visit such as petting zoos, corn and hay mazes, pony rides and crafts. Autumn is also a great time for restaurant dining as creative chefs use the rich seasonal harvest in palate-pleasing and often surprising combinations. Read more »

State’s Official Fall Foliage Color Reports Begin September 12

Albany, N.Y. - Okay, while we cannot say with absolute certainty that New York State has more leaves than anyone else, we can say that we believe New York’s foliage bounty and beauty make it the most desirable autumn travel destination for “Leaf Peepers” nationwide. And it is a fact that New York State has almost as many acres of broad-leaved trees (which help give the region’s foliage a spectacular color range) as the rest of the Northeast combined. The change in colors, from the greens of summer to the brilliant reds, oranges and yellows of fall, draws thousands of leaf lovers to the state’s roadways and waterways, hiking and biking trails, small towns, scenic vistas, country fairs and harvest festivals every year.

Starting Wednesday, September 12 I LOVE NEW YORK’s Fall Foliage Color Report will be distributed weekly and continue until the end of the foliage season in early November. Each Wednesday throughout the season, reports are posted on iloveny.com/fall, ensuring that visitors can get the latest information on foliage conditions in each region of the state. Read more »

Hauppauge, N.Y. - The organizers of the annual Long Island Winterfest: Jazz on the Vine are honored to announce that the program has received the Arts Destination Marketing Award presented by Americans for the Arts and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).

The award is bestowed annually to leaders from local tourism bureaus and local arts agencies that work together to effectively and innovatively use the arts to market the community as a travel destination. Read more »