Report: Tourism increasing in Cortland County

The Cortland County Dairy Parade in 2015 (Cortland Voice file photo)

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Tourism in Cortland County went up 0.7 percent in 2017, according to a new report from New York State.

According to data released from New York State, the state's tourism economy expanded in 2017 with 4.4 percent growth in traveler spending, reaching a new high of nearly $67.6 billion.

“Tourism is economic development,” said Meghan Lawton, who was recently named the new executive director of the Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “I would like to recognize all the tourism businesses and the owners across Cortland County who have invested their time and efforts and who work tirelessly to continue growing their businesses.

Lawton also credited retired tourism director Jim Dempsey and the CVB Board of Directors and staff who "put together a very strong tourism program for our county."

The report showed Cortland County's tourism impact reached $71.9 million in 2017. Travelers are spending in several categories, including: food and beverage ($31.7 million); lodging ($14.4 million); retail sales ($13.7 million); recreation $5.6 million); second homes ($5.2 million) and transportation ($1.3 million).

The report was put together by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company based in Philadelphia, Penn.