Discover Long Island (DLI), the region’s only accredited destination marketing organization, is proud to announce tourism on Long Island has reached record highs for the third year in a row. Based on recently released data from New York State's annual Tourism Economics report, travelers spent an astounding $7.9 billion across diverse sectors in the Long Island region in 2024, surpassing 2023’s record-breaking spending of $7.5 billion by 3.8%. Tourism-related employment also saw remarkable growth, with 78,418 jobs now attributed to the tourism sector, up from 76,227 jobs in the 2023 report.
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“Sharing this third straight year of record-breaking data with our residents and downtown communities, who truly reap the benefits of a thriving visitor economy, is what makes this continued trajectory of year-over-year growth most meaningful,” said Discover Long Island Interim President & CEO, Mitch Pally. “In 2024, visitor spending climbed to an unprecedented $7.9 billion, generating $945 million in state and local taxes that help relieve household tax burdens, while fueling small businesses and supporting thousands of local jobs. This continued success seen within Suffolk County and beyond, is guided by the vision of our Board of Directors, strengthened by our partners and local leaders, and executed by our dedicated Discover Long Island team. Together, we are helping ensure that tourism continues to enhance the quality of life for Long Islanders while elevating our region’s standing among the nation’s premier destinations.”
Spending on food & beverages and lodging constituted 36% and 21% of the total expenditure, respectively, while retail & service stations added another $1.2 billion, or 15% of the total spend. Suffolk County enjoyed a large increase in tourism spending in 2024 with 7% more spending over 2023, while Nassau County saw a decline of 0.4% in tourism spending compared to the year prior.
Tourism on Long Island also generated an impressive $945 million in state and local taxes in 2024, up from $900 million in 2023. Once again, Suffolk County led the way by constituting 59% of the region’s tourism tax base, an increase from the 2023 report showing Suffolk County constituting 57.7%. Were it not for tourism-generated state and local taxes, the average household in the region would need to pay an additional $976 to maintain the current level of government revenue.
In the report, New York State is divided into 11 vacation regions. The region of Long Island ranked as second largest in visitor spending throughout the state in 2024, behind New York City. Discover Long Island will continue to build on this momentum by implementing innovative and data-driven marketing strategies geared towards targeted audiences that position Suffolk County and the greater Long Island region as a year-round destination. Utilizing cutting edge technology, tapping into consumer trends, and capitalizing on large events slated for the region such as the 2025 Ryder Cup and 2026 U.S. Open, Discover Long Island aims to keep Long Island at the forefront of travelers' minds, ensuring sustainable and equitable growth for the destination.
Tourism statistics referenced in this release were provided by Tourism Economics, a globally respected travel data firm, using the Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) input-output model for New York State. The report can be reviewed in full here (PDF file).
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