Governor promotes snowmobiling in New York

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo recently travelled to the Tug Hill region in the North Country to launch “I Snowmobile NY,” the first part of a print, television, radio and digital, nationwide, $4.5 million winter tourism campaign aimed at promoting snowmobiling, skiing and other recreational activities in upstate New York.

“This season, we welcome visitors from around the world to experience winter in upstate New York,” Cuomo said. “The North Country region is unmatched in its natural beauty and now offers new recreational trails for snowmobiling and a wide variety of other activities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to explore. As one of the biggest and growing employers in the state, the tourism industry continues to play a significant role in boosting our economy. With our new ad campaign, we want more New Yorkers and tourists to come visit regions like Tug Hill to see what winter adventures await in the Empire State.”

The print and digital “I Snowmobile NY” ads began running after Jan. 1, 2014, in national newspapers and trade magazines.

Visitors are up
In December, the state released a report showing that the number of visitors to New York increased by 8.8 million, a 4.2 percent increase in 2013. In addition, the industry is projected to generate $7.7 billion in state and local taxes with direct spending expected to reach $61.3 billion, up 7 percent from 2012 and double the national average.

The industry is also projected to add 24,800 jobs by the end of the year, a 3.1 percent increase from 2012, also double the national average.

In total, leisure and hospitality is projected to finish the year with 818,700 jobs, making tourism the third fastest growing job sector in New York.

There are 10,300 miles of snowmobile trails throughout New York — that’s more than Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania and more than Massachusetts and Michigan combined.

Since 2011, the state has spent more than $11 million for trail maintenance and development, an investment that has helped generate $868 million in economic revenue. Approximately 90,000 New York households snowmobile.

The “I Snowmobile NY” ad campaign continues the governor’s commitment to promoting tourism and supporting economic development in the North Country in order to generate revenue and create jobs. Over the last three years, the governor has focused on rebuilding the North Country tourism economy through actions such as:

Presiding over the state’s largest land purchase — 69,000 acres of the former Finch Pruyn and other Nature Conservancy lands throughout the Adirondacks

Announcing his intention to approve the land classification for 42,000 acres recently added to the Adirondack Park that would enable creation of new snowmobile connector trails on formerly inaccessible land.

Providing $12 million in state funding for repairs along the eight-mile Whiteface Mountain Veterans’ Memorial Highway, in Wilmington.

Establishing a partnership between the state, Clarkson University, and the Trudeau Institute to form a world-class biotech enterprise

For trails throughout the state, from the Catskills up to Niagara, go to www.iloveny.com.