Kingston, N.Y. (June 4, 2013) — Ulster County Executive Mike Hein has announced that the county experienced a 6.2 percent increase in occupancy tax revenue over the course of 2012, signaling a growth in the area’s tourism industry as a whole.
In 2012, the county collected just over $1.1 million in occupancy taxes, an increase of about $64,391 compared to 2011. This was the third consecutive year in which occupancy tax revenues have increased, rising at total of about 14.4 percent since 2009. Ulster County has become a true vacation destination over the past several years, due in part to the Ulster County Alive! marketing campaign initiated by Hein and the county tourism department.
“Ulster County is home to a wide range of recreational opportunities to visitors of the region, and we are continuing to see the true economic impact of our tourism marketing efforts,” said Hein. “We are very pleased to see this exceptional level of growth, despite the fact that the economy is still stagnant across the United States. It is becoming clear that more and more people are deciding to visit Ulster County when it comes time to plan their yearly vacations or getaways, and we’re thrilled to elevate our standing as a tourism hotspot.”
According to a recent labor market profile, employment in the leisure and hospitality sector in the Kingston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has grown by 15.6 percent since March 2012, with more than 7,400 people in the area now directly employed in the industry. This makes leisure and hospitality the fastest-growing sector by far in the region. The Kingston MSA includes all of Ulster County.
The Ulster County Alive! campaign is a comprehensive effort to attract more visitors from all over the world to the region. The county has become a favorite of vacationers due to its proximity to the Catskill Mountains, thousands of acres of natural areas, various recreational opportunities, fine dining, rich arts culture and variety of lodging options.
“In the years to come, tourism will continue to be a major factor in Ulster County’s economic vibrancy,” said Hein. “This is a sector that is creating hundreds of jobs a year for local residents. We have laid a strong foundation for bringing more people to the area each year, and we will keep ramping up these efforts in the near future.”
To learn more about the county’s efforts to promote its tourism opportunities across the country and around the world, visit http://www.ulstercountyalive.com.
