A survey of 23 tourist attractions in Connecticut revealed the state had a 12 percent increase in summer visitors to those destinations from June through August this year, Gov. Dannel Malloy”™s office said.
Tourism destinations in the state also reported an increased level of spending this summer, rising to $906 per party, up four percent when compared to last year. Overall tourism has been up this year, with a three percent increase in visitor numbers during January through August 2015 when compared to the same period over the prior year.
“These numbers are significant,” Malloy said. “This demonstrates we’re making gains; jobs are growing significantly each month, our efforts to make our state a tourist destination are paying off, and the needle is no doubt moving in the right direction.”
He touted the overall economic support to the state from its $14 billion tourism sector, which supports more than 80,000 workers and has a significant indirect impact on job creation and business development.
“Destinations in Connecticut are reporting positive growth ”” an indication the state’s commitments to boosting this sector are generating results,” Malloy said.
According to research data, Connecticut’s hotel industry also reported positive results in key performance metrics from June through August and outpaced national metrics in percentage increases, which is further indication of increasing demand throughout the state:
- Lodging occupancy increased 4 percent compared to last year. That’s compared to 1 percent for the entire nation.
- Revenue per available room was up 7.6 percent, or 1.7 percent higher than the rest of the U.S.
- Lodging revenue exceeded $285 million this summer, an indication of higher demand, which is up 7.1 percent compared to last year.
- Regionally, markets such as Groton/Norwich and New Haven/Waterbury are leading the state in the areas of occupancy, up 6 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. Revenue per available room in those areas is up 12.9 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively.
State officials and business leaders credit some of the boost in tourism to the state”™s Still Revolutionary marketing campaign to attract tourism, which is continuing this fall as $1.1 million multimedia campaign.
“The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Culture and Tourism is a key player in our attendance support this year, including direct co-op support for highway billboards, ads in tourism publications and TripAdvisor advertising,” Dr. Brian Davis, president and CEO of The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, said. “Certainly the latter helped contribute to the aquarium being named by TripAdvisor reviewers as one of the top 25 in America and ranked as number one in New England.”
