Press releases
May 26, 2023
Governor Lamont announces Connecticut tourism attracts record revenue and national press attention
Stan looks to continue building momentum into summer 2023
(HARTFORD, CT) — Governor Ned Lamont today highlighted the recent release of data showing a tangible return on investment in promoting Connecticut with a year-round advertising campaign designed to showcase the state as a more vibrant, dynamic and inclusive tourist destination. Not only does the state attract more visitors than ever tourism-related businesses spend, Connecticut also attracts more accolades than ever from some of the world’s top media outlets.
An independent study by tourism research leader Tourism Economics reports that tourism now generates $17 billion in annual business sales for a range of tourism-related businesses in every Connecticut region. This is a new state record for visitor spending, making Connecticut a regional leader as well.
Another independent North American travel study by Arrivalist also ranks Connecticut first in the nation for increased growth in overnight road travel over the past year.
The robust marketing and PR campaign “Find Your Vibe” continued this summer to help deliver these results. The first stop for many people interested in visiting Connecticut is the state’s official travel website. Over the past year, CTvisit.com had a record 7.1 million visits. According to third-party website traffic measurement company SEMrush, CTvisit.com ranks in the top five state tourist destinations in the country for traffic and engagement, right next to major tourist destinations such as Florida and Hawaii.
Leading media outlets are also taking notice of Connecticut’s emergence as a world-class destination. Only a few recent newspaper articles have put Connecticut’s cities, towns, restaurants, hotels, attractions, and airports in the national spotlight:
- The New York Times recently ranked New Haven as one of the best places to visit in 2023. (to combine)
- USA Today Top 10 ranked Mystic as the 4th best destination for a summer vacation in 2023 (to combine)
- Bloomberg called Mystic “chef’s paradise”. (to combine)
- Passport warehouse, one of the premier LGBTQ+ travel publications, called Connecticut “one of the most inspiring places in the country.” (to combine)
- Traveler Condé Nast reported that its readers voted Bradley International Airport the second best airport in the country in 2022. Additionally, this year’s survey (currently ongoing) includes a total of 35 Connecticut hotels, resorts, spas, and restaurants in the nominations. (to combine)
- Everyday meal even declared Connecticut home of America’s number one pizza – for four consecutive years. (to combine)
“It’s about time Connecticut tourism gets the national attention it deserves” said Governor Lamont. “Our state is an amazing place to visit and an even better place to live. The rest of the world is finally starting to see Connecticut for what we are – vibrant, kinetic and inclusive. As a destination, we have it all – natural beauty, cultural attractions, amazing places to eat and unique places to stay. The dark heroes behind this momentum are the incredibly hard-working people in the travel industry, as well as our state agencies and the many Connecticut residents who welcome visitors to our state every day. They’ll make Connecticut proud.”
“There’s Nothing Like Summer in Connecticut” Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “Whether you want to relax on the beach, take a trip to one of our wonderful state parks, cool off at the museum, or enjoy an amazing place to eat, we have it all. The state’s recent accolades in tourism are made possible by our hard-working state agencies, our wonderful business owners, and our fantastic residents. So if you’re planning a day trip or looking for a place to spend the summer, come and see what Connecticut has to offer.”
“Connecticut is gearing up for its biggest summer tourist season yet, and rightly so” Alexandra Daum, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said. “We have all summer favorites, from beautiful beaches and fantastic ice cream to buttered lobster rolls and cool cultural highlights in our cities. It is a place that defies expectations, where everyone can find their own atmosphere and something they love. This is evidenced by our website traffic and engagement data CTvisit.comwhich show the world that despite being a small New England state, we hit well above our weight class with traditional tourism states like Florida and Hawaii.
Connecticut’s outdoor recreation economy has grown significantly over the last few years as demand for outdoor recreation has increased significantly since the pandemic, with a recent analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showing that the state’s outdoor recreation economy has grown 20% since the pandemic. 2020 to 2021, generating nearly $4 billion in added value and over 44,000 jobs for the state” said Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “This growth can be attributed to the many unique outdoor recreation opportunities we have in Connecticut, including Connecticut State Parks – collectively one of the state’s largest tourist destinations with 17 million visitors last year. That’s why we’ve invested historic sums in restoring our state parks, connected our beach parks to New York City by public transportation, and continue to invest in providing access to parks, building and improving trails, improving access for boaters and anglers, and much more. Come and see why Connecticut is a great place to enjoy the outdoors.”
To learn more about all the great things to see and do in Connecticut, visit CTvisit.com.
- Twitter: @GovNedLamont
- Facebook: Governor Ned Lamont’s Office