The Dutchess County Fair, drawing up to half million people
, returns next week (file)
POUGHKEEPSIE – Visitor spending is up 25 percent over that last five years in Dutchess County, according to Mary Kay Vrba, president of Dutchess Tourism, Inc. (DTI).
Vrba provided that figure along with several other positive numbers to a crowd of nearly 300 people at the monthly Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday.
Touting the rapid growth of tourism in the county, Vrba said that 2017 was another record-breaking year for revenue generated by Dutchess County Tourism totaling more than $601.5 million, an increase of 5.9 percent over 2016. “It’s the place to be right now.”
Vrba said anyone who has tried to book a hotel room in the fall or during major event weekends knows rooms can be hard to come by. That inventory will be growing, though, as Vrba said construction is underway on four new hotels. “We will be able to better accommodate those additional visitors and eliminate the need for them to look outside the county.”
In a report prepared by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, entitled “The Economic Impact of Tourism in New York,” it was determined that 4.75 million people are estimated to visit the county annually generating $43 million in local taxes and $33 million for New York State. According to the report, were it not for tourism-generated state and local taxes, the average household in Dutchess County would have to pay an additional $711 to maintain the same level of government revenue.
Tourism is the fourth largest industry in New York and employs 11,239 people in Dutchess, according to Vrba.
Frank Castella Jr., chamber president, said that his agency works closely with Dutchess Tourism and “the relationship is very successful as evidenced by events such as the recently held 27th annual Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival which drew thousands of visitors to Rhinebeck.” Tourists attending the event came from several states and several came from foreign countries.
