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NY state tourism numbers are strong

The Statue of Liberty, which stands on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, was the America's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954.
Daniel Berehulak
/
Getty Images
The Statue of Liberty, which stands on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, was the America's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954.

NY state is seeing a huge increase in tourism numbers since the coronavirus pandemic.

The state released figures showing more than 291 million visitors came last year. That's a huge increase over 2021 and the highest number ever. The state's head of Tourism Ross Levi says that's mostly because of domestic travelers.

"Upstate communities were especially successful. I think that's part of that trend of places with outdoor assets being able to capitalize particularly well, the Adirondacks, Niagara Falls, The Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes."

Tourists shelled out 78 and a half billion dollars in direct spending last year, surpassing the previous 2019 record.