Tourism is big business in Western New York, accounting for an estimated $4.1 billion in economic activity, according to a recent report.
The report, by consulting firm Tourism Economics, found that Erie County accounts for nearly two-thirds of all tourist spending in the region, more than double that in Niagara County, home to the iconic Niagara Falls State Park.
The report estimates that tourism spending grew by 6.6% across the region last year, led by a 7.2% jump in Erie County and a 6.4% increase in Niagara County.
Much of the spending – 40% in all – goes toward food and beverages, the report found. Lodging costs account for another 23% of the spending, while gas and other consumer purchases make up nearly 20% of visitor spending, the report found.
But that was before relations between the United States and Canada took a turn for the worse this year, with the Trump administration’s tariffs and the president’s rhetoric that offended many Canadians by referring to their nation as the “51st state.”
Since then, border crossings at the local bridges have dropped by more than 10% in each direction and tourist businesses across the region have reported smaller crowds and shrinking revenues.
Even so, the report underscores the importance of tourism to the region’s economy. The report found that tourism spending has grown steadily after plunging during the initial days of the Covid-19 pandemic, rebounding to $2.8 billion in 2021 and growing by more than 20% in 2022 and more than 10% in 2023.
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David Robinson
Buffalo Next Editor
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