FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders received some good news this week about visitor spending in Monmouth County in 2016. Tourists spent $2,441 billion in 2016 which is a 3.3% increase overall on spending in local business that helps fuel employment and sales in dining, recreation, lodging, retail and transportation.

“Tourism spending continues to climb up in Monmouth County,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the County’s Tourism and Economic Development divisions. “Tourism has long been a critical part of the overall health of the County’s economy. This spending supports the well-being of our restaurants, hotels and attractions and indirectly supports equipment and furnishing suppliers as well as wholesalers, utilities and business services.”

The 2016 breakdown in tourism spending included: $641 million on food & beverages, $495 million on accommodations, $546 million on recreation & entertainment, $451 million on retail, $307 million on transportation and $279 million on 2^nd homes.

“Tourism directly and indirectly employs 8.5 percent of our local workforce; which translates to 33,209 jobs,” said Freeholder Serena DiMaso, Esq., liaison to the County’s Tourism and Workforce divisions. “Our workforce enjoyed an increased number of visitors in part because, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, visitors enjoyed abundant sunshine as they took in the sights and sounds that Monmouth County has to offer.”

Overall, Monmouth County sees about 5 million visitors each year.

Freeholders Arnone and DiMaso anticipated this good news because of the positive reports from many business owners and several local officials about their tourism season. Many towns had solid or increased beach badge sales that often indicate how the season is going to look.

Visitor spending translates into revenue for local business and tax revenue for the State and local governments. In 2016, visitors to Monmouth County generated $302 million in sales and lodging revenues for the state and some local municipalities.

The numbers were announced by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno on March 9 at the State Tourism conference in Atlantic City. The report was compiled for the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism by Tourism Economics of Philadelphia.

Overall visitors to the state spent an estimated $44.1 billion in 2016; an increase statewide of 2.9% over the previous 12 months.

If New Jersey and Monmouth County did not have a Tourism industry every household would need to pay an additional $1,525 per year (in taxes) to replace the tourism taxes received by the state and local governments

To find out what is happening now in Monmouth County, visitors and residents are encouraged to check out the tourism calendar of events at VisitMonmouth.com and to follow Monmouth County Tourism on Facebook and Twitter.

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