Visitors spent nearly $2.5 billion in the Adirondack Region in 2024, up slightly from $2.3 billion the year prior, with Warren County representing 37 percent of the region’s tourism sales ($928 million), slightly trailing only Essex County at 39 percent ($964 million).
The latest statewide tourism impact study compiled by travel data firm Tourism Economics, underscores the Adirondack Region’s heavy reliance on its tourism sector despite its six counties raking in just 2 percent of the more than $94 billion total visitor spending statewide.
This report, which can be found online here, defines the Adirondack Region as the entirety of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Lewis and Warren counties. There are 12 counties total that lie partially within the Adirondack Park, and only two wholly in the park, Essex and Hamilton counties.
The annual report found that once again tourism was more important to the Adirondack Region’s economy last year than that of any other region in the state. The industry directly generates nearly 19 percent of all employment here. In 2024, Warren County sustained the most tourism jobs in the Adirondack Region at 8,610.
Regional visitor spending last year reached nearly $2.5 billion throughout Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Lewis and Warren counties, an increase in direct spending of around 4.5 percent. That spending generated more than $153.7 million in local tax revenue, an increase of 2.3 percent over last year, and $136 million in state tax revenue, an increase of 4.9 percent over last year, according to the report.
Visitor spending in Warren County last year reached nearly $928.2 million compared with $887.8 million in 2023, an increase in direct spending of around 4.5 percent.
The local lodging industry saw the most notable bump in visitor spending, from $446 million in 2023 to $467 million last year. That spending generated more than $58.2 million in local tax revenue, an increase of 2.8 percent over last year, and $54.5 million in state tax revenue, an increase of 5.2 percent over last year, according to the report.
Warren County Tourism Director Heather Bagshaw said that tax revenue generates a savings for local taxpayers. Without the tax revenue from tourism, locals would need to pay an additional $3,750 in taxes to maintain the same level of government services, she said.
Statewide, tourism spending reached $93.99 billion last year, up 6.7 percent from 2023 and up 27.7 percent compared with 2019 (pre-Covid), according to the report. Tourism remains one of the state’s largest industries, visitor spending both directly and indirectly supporting close to 1 million jobs and generating billions of dollars in state and local tax revenue.
The Warren County Tourism Department’s mission is to responsibly promote and support the tourism industry in the Lake George Area through marketing, collaboration and honest communication with regional tourism partners and visitors. The end result is a destination that serves the overall visitor experience.
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