The economic impact of tourism and hospitality in Monroe County is more than $1.2 billion, according to data unveiled during the Visit Rochester Annual Meeting on October 25, 2023.

Traveler spending in 2022 in Monroe County generated an economic impact of $1.272 billion, according to a study by Tourism Economics. Of note, traveler spending in 2022 exceeded the pre-pandemic benchmark figures from 2019. In fact, the economic impact of tourism in Monroe County in 2022 was $147.7 million more than the same figure in 2019.

When the pandemic began, the tourism and hospitality industry was the first to feel the effects of the pandemic, and one of the last to fully recover. The fact that traveler spending, as well as many other economic measures, has bypassed 2019 levels is encouraging and indicative of a significant recovery for the industry in the years following the pandemic.

Traveler spending was divided among the following categories:

• Lodging - $400 million
• Recreation – $55 million
• Food & Beverage - $449 million
• Retail & Service Stations - $238 million
• Transportation - $122 million
• Second Homes - $8 million

The industry is also responsible for more than 16,000 jobs in Monroe County. These employees contributed $647 million in labor income.

Additionally, the tourism and hospitality industry in Monroe County generated $88 million in new local taxes and $67 million in state taxes.

Tourism Spending in the Finger Lakes Region

In 2022, travelers spent $4.0 billion in the 14-county Finger Lakes region across a diverse range of sectors. Overall, visitor spending was up 25% to reach 122% of 2019 levels (pre-pandemic benchmark year).

Monroe County represents 32% ($1.3 billion) of the region's tourism sales.

Economic impact data provided by Tourism Economics. View 2022 tourism detail report for the Finger Lakes region here.