Still finalizing your summer vacation plans? If so, think about spending some time – and money – right here in the Garden State. As it turns out, tourism is a really big deal here.
According to visitnj.org, a website that has pretty much everything you’d ever want to know about tourism here, tourism’s economic impact is vital to the state’s well-being.
According to a 2018 tourism impact study available on the site, 110 million visitors spent $44.7 billion that year. Tourism also supports 9.8 percent of all New Jersey jobs. Think your taxes are high now? If all of those visitors went away, you’d be paying even more. In 2018, tourism generated $5 billion in state and local tax revenues.
That’s the great part about staying local for summer getaways. You get to have fun, and you get to help state and local economies.
Sure the tourist attractions generate jobs and tax revenue. But there’s also a “ripple” effect. Tourists will stop for gas, or food, and maybe a few of them will book overnight stays as well. All of those businesses one might not consider “touristy” also have to employ accountants, insurance agents and more. So, wherever you spend your tourism dollars, a lot of folks are benefitting. Why not spend those dollars here?
Everyone knows about the ocean, beaches, boardwalks, etc., but not everyone is into spending a day or two getting sand in their shorts. That’s OK. There are dozens of other things to do here. Need a list? Check out visitnj.org and you’ll find plenty of possibilities.
Many, if not most of the exciting things to see in New Jersey can be visited in just a day, making them perfect for people who are short on time or who simply don’t want to go through the hassle and expense of an extended vacation.
So, if you’re still looking for something to do this summer, or you find yourself with an extra free day or two, consider visiting New Jersey. We’ll all thank you for it.
