The focus on agritourism and the craft beverage industry build on the administration’s investments in tourism and the success of Tourism and Wine, Beer and Spirits summits held in Albany since 2013. Wineries, breweries, distilleries, and “cideries” are all on the ride in New York and serve as major tourism drivers.
New ventures to build on the Governor’s commitment to promote New York State as the tourism capital of the world include:
Welcome Centers: New welcome centers in each of the 11 regions in the state will have Taste NY markets, which offer locally grown food and beverages and three interactive I LOVE NEW YORK kiosks for visitors to learn about the region’s history and destinations. Travelers can create an itinerary based around regional attractions.
The new welcome centers will be found at the following locations:
- Western New York - I-190 Grand Island
- Finger Lakes - Geneva Visitors and Events Center
- Central New York - Auburn Visitors Centerý
- Southern Tier - Broome Gateway Center
- Mohawk Valley - Lock 13, Canajoharie
- North Country - Thousand Islands International Tourism Council Visitor Center
- Capital Region – I-90 westbound exits 11-12, Schodack; Northbound I-87 exits 17-18, Glens Falls
- Hudson Valley - I-84 Exits 16-17, Stormville
- New York City - Javits Center
- Long Island - Long Island Expressway between exits 51 and 52
I LOVE NY @Tribeca: A short film competition will give filmmakers the chance to create a tourism video. The winner for each reason to have their film produced. A panel of celebrity judges, including Steve Buscemi, will award the best of the final videos. The program has the support of Tribeca Film Festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal.
Heritage Tourism: New York State will celebrate two landmark anniversaries in 2017: 100 years of women’s suffrage in New York, and the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. A pair of Path Through History promotions will highlight the milestones. Visitors will visit locations commemorating the work of suffragettes who helped New York become the first eastern state to grant women the right to vote, and learn the importance the Erie Canal played in building New York’s industry and trade.
Enhanced I LOVE NEW YORK App: The already-No. 1 destination marketing app in the App Store will be expanded to include an audio tour, live maps, walking and driving directions, and additional multimedia content. Plans also include information on New York’s attractions’ accessibilities, allowing anyone to enjoy all the state has to offer.
Market NY: Funding for the Market NY program will increase to $15 million with $2 million allocated specifically towards agritourism and the craft beverage industry. The new round of tourism grants will include promoting destinations, attractions, and special events, as well as funding for advertising, media production costs, industry-related press tours and marketing materials, along with website design, development, and updates.
Increased Taste NY Exposure: Using the $500,000 allocated to increase tourism as farm-based and craft beverage operators, Taste NY will have a presence at key events and festivals, so they can target audiences who are receptive to visiting craft breweries, wineries, and other agritourism destinations across New York State
Since Cuomo has taken over as governor, New York’s total economic impact has increased by more than 25 percent. For the second straight year, the tourism industry’s total economic impact eclipsed $100 billion, with 234 million visitors in 2015 who brought more than $63 billion in direct spending.
The craft beverage industry has experienced an increase in the number of farm wineries in New York by more than 60 percent, from 195 in 2010 to 316 today. Additionally, the number of microbreweries has grown by 285 percent, from 40 in 2010 to 154, while the number of farm distilleries grew from just 10 in 2010 to 98 today. Farm-based craft beverage producers have grown by 178 percent since 2011, from 205 to 570 manufacturers.
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