Ulster County tourist spending tops $532 million in 2015

Visitor spending in Ulster County increased for the sixth consecutive year in 2015.

Travelers to Ulster County spent $532.7 million in 2015, up $18 million compared to 2014, according to a report from the Division of Business Advocacy and Research at Empire State Development.

“Ulster County is an amazing place that more people are discovering and returning to year after year,” Ulster County Executive Mike Hein said.

The entire Catskills region, which includes Ulster, Sullivan, Greene and Delaware counties, grew traveler spending to $1.17 billion in 2015. Ulster County ranked second in the Hudson Valley region in visitor spending, trailing Westchester County.

“Ulster County benefits from the thousands of jobs the tourism sector creates for local residents and the multiplier effect of this spending,” Ulster County Tourism Director Richard J. Remsnyder said.