Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a commitment of $60 million to grow New York”™s tourism industry at the first New York State Tourism Summit in Albany on Wednesday.
Tourism is New York”™s fifth largest employment sector, supporting 714,000 jobs and generating more than $29 billion in wages. New York attracts more than 202 million visitors each year, generating $57 billion in direct tourism spending and $7 billion in state and local taxes, according to .
Como said  the state will have on-site greeters and welcome centers at New York airports, with Delta Airlines featuring I Love New York advertisements in its in-flight magazine. I Love New York signs will be posted at airports, including Stewart Airport in Orange County.
Welcome centers will be set up at border and interstate crossings, with Taste NY products being sold at rest stops across the state.
The I Love New York campaign will go global, with ads popping up in China and Brazil and state representatives in Asia and South America promoting tourism here.
Cuomo said the state will launch an  I Love New York campaign targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. LGBT tourism accounts for $70 billion in tourism spending annually in the U.S.
The governor also announced the creation of the Sports and Special Events Commission, charged with recruiting sporting and other special events to the state.
Last year, the state spent $19 million on tourism. Initiatives include a partnership with the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority  with $2 million worth of advertising on 7,000 advertising spaces on subways, buses and trains.
