Tourism Spending Up in Princeton Region for Fourth Year in a Row

Tourism expenditures in Mercer County were $1.154 billion in 2013, an almost 4 percent increase from 2012 and an all-time high, according to a report released today at the New Jersey Conference on Tourism.

The report, title “The Economic Impact of Tourism in New Jersey,” analyzed state and local tourism-related tax receipts and tourism employment figures.

State and local tourism-related tax receipts for Mercer County increased by more than 4 percent to $151.8 million. Tourism employment in Mercer County grew by nearly 3 percent to 11,585 positions, or 5.2 percent of the county’s employment during 2013, according to the report.

“It is exciting to see the impacts of the Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau’s efforts,” said Patience Purdy, chair of Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We look forward to sustained growth for the Princeton region as we continue to promote its many assets.”

The Princeton Region welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually and includes the municipalities of Cranbury, East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown, Borough of Hopewell, Hopewell Township, Kingston, Lawrence, Montgomery, Pennington, Plainsboro, Princeton, Robbinsville, Rocky Hill, South Brunswick, Trenton and West Windsor.

“Mercer County has much to offer, and as we work with our tourism partners, waves of newcomers are discovering the riches that make us unique and sought after,” Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said. “The Mercer region’s strong transportation network, including the rejuvenated Trenton-Mercer Airport, increase opportunities for visitors to appreciate our beautiful and historic county, and as the data indicates, the Mercer region’s appeal continues to grow.”

Statewide, visitor spending increased 1.3 percent  in 2013, totallng more than $40 billion, according to the report. Approximately 1 in 10 jobs in the state are related to the tourism industry, the report estimates.

“The Princeton Region is an international destination with many visitors from across the globe coming to enjoy our rich education, arts and history assets. As the official destination marketing organization for the Princeton Region we actively pursue foreign and domestic travelers through advertisement and trade show activities,” said Adam Perle, vice president of Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “We work hand-in-hand with the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism to position our destination as an intriguing option for visitors. Our rich history, international name recognition, location equidistant between New York and Philadelphia with affordable, first rate accommodations are all key factors in our success.”

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