Visitation reached 101 million in 2017

TRENTON, N.J. – Secretary of State Tahesha Way announced that New Jersey again set a record in 2017, with the tourism industry accounting for $45.4 billion in economic impact – an increase of more than 2.9 percent over the previous year. This was in part due to an increase in visitation to New Jersey, which increased for the eighth straight year. The number of visitors to New Jersey increased by 2.3 percent last year to 101 million.

“Tourism is an indispensable industry in New Jersey and will continue to be an integral force buoying the state’s economy as it contributes to job creation and increases tax revenue for the state,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way, who oversees the Division of Travel and Tourism. “The economic report revealed the continuation of non–shore counties generating the largest share of tourism revenues, to the tune of 52%. We will be working from the boardwalks and beyond to continue our efforts to promote New Jersey as a premier travel destination.”

According to The Economic Impact of Tourism in New Jersey Report released today by the Department of State’s Division of Travel and Tourism, New Jersey’s travel and tourism industry directly supports 328,650 jobs. When combined with indirect and induced jobs, tourism sustained nearly 523,300 jobs, and 9.8% of all jobs in New Jersey

Other highlights of the annual tourism report include:

• The tourism sector generated $38.7 billion of state GDP in 2017, representing 6.7% of the entire state economy.
• 18 of 21 counties saw an increase in tourism industry sales.
• Including indirect and induced impacts, tourism in New Jersey generated $10.5 billion in government revenues last year, including $4.8 billion in state and local tax revenues. This is good news for New Jerseyans because without the tourism industry, New Jersey households would pay $1,515 more each in order to maintain the current level of state and local government services.

The Economic Impact of Tourism in New Jersey Report, prepared by Tourism Economics, can be found in its entirety at https://www.visitnj.org/new-jersey-tourism-research-and-information. To plan your next day trip, weekend excursion or vacation in New Jersey, check out www.visitnj.org.