Garden State delivers exciting vacations
Study Details Growth of New Jersey Tourism
Great beaches, exciting entertainment and a unique vacation experience were three dominant factors that led to New Jersey's record-breaking travel year, according to a recent survey of travel trends conducted by Longwoods International of Toronto.
"We experienced a year record achievement for New Jersey's travel and tourism industry in 1999," said Governor Christie Whitman. "Our revenues soared to an all-time high of $27.7 billion and more people visited the Garden State last year than ever before. Clearly, our efforts to promote New Jersey's diversity of activities and attractions to a broader audience has advanced our image as a prime vacation destination."
Governor Whitman noted that tourism in New Jersey directly supports nearly half a million jobs while it indirectly generates $16.6 billion in wages. The industry also brings the state nearly $5.5 billion dollars in tax revenues.
The 1999 figures should prove to be a springboard for an even more impressive year in 2000. Governor Whitman is proposing to increase spending by $4 million to promote New Jersey as a premier travel and tourism destination. The proposed budget increase will be used primarily to generate additional broadcast and print media exposure nationally and abroad, increase multilingual brochures to attract foreign visitors and increase publication/distribution of new tourism brochures.
According to Longwoods' research, visitation to New Jersey increased by two percent to 166.9 million trips in 1999. Overnight trips rose by ten percent to 43.8 million trips.
The study also indicated that expenditures by day travelers increased to $8.3 billion, a 4 percent rise. Spending by pass-through travelers increased by 8 percent to $1.66 billion in 1999.
New Jersey's gaming industry also experienced positive results by maintaining its competitive market share and increasing total overnight casino trips by 26 percent.
Additionally, the state's share of overnight marketable leisure trips exceeded the regional growth rate by 15 percent. Beach and casino trips showed the strongest boost within marketable leisure trips. A marketable leisure trip is defined as a pleasure trip other than a visit to friends and relatives.
"New Jersey has aggressively developed strategies to protect and expand the state's core markets," said Gualberto Medina, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission. "These strategies were developed in accordance with Governor Whitman's 10-year Master Plan and have included drawing additional tourism from neighboring regions as well as increasing off-peak travel to the Garden State."
The New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission promotes New Jersey as a year-round tourism destination through seasonal broadcast and print media, which increased by 30 percent and 40 percent respectively last year. New Jersey's diverse vacation opportunities were featured in the New Jersey Blossoms, Fall for New Jersey and Ski New Jersey campaigns. A new spring/summer 2000 commercial will debut later this April.
"We continue to attract more visitors to the Garden State through the diversity of our tourism product," said Noreen Bodman, Executive Director of the Office of Travel and Tourism. "From historic sites and cultural centers to beautiful beaches and family fun, visitors and residents alike are discovering that New Jersey is the perfect year-round vacation destination.
Medina said that for every $1 spent on tourism advertising $23 in tax revenues is generated for the state. He added, "When looking at the entire economic picture, it's clear that successful promotion of the state creates greater economic opportunities for our citizens and our business community which ultimately makes New Jersey a better place in which to live, work, vacation and raise a family."