Dan Cirucci: NJ Tourism Sets $40.4 Billion Record!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

NJ Tourism Sets $40.4 Billion Record!

The Christie Administration today announced that New Jersey’s tourism industry set a new record in 2013, generating more than $40 billion in overall tourism-related demand. Visitor spending, capital investment and general government support of tourism tallied a record of $40.4 billion, a 1.3 percent increase over 2012. Visitation in New Jersey also rose to 87.2 million in 2013, a 5.9 percent increase compared to 2012.

The latest figures were announced by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno at the 2014 New Jersey Conference on Tourism in Atlantic City.

“Today’s numbers reaffirm the incredible resilience shown by New Jersey’s tourism industry and the commitment of our visitors, who continue to demonstrate their support by vacationing at our great tourist destinations after Sandy,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “The performance of our tourism industry is integral to the overall health of our state’s economy. To achieve this record progress is so encouraging for the future as New Jersey is well-positioned to build on this success entering the important spring and summer months.”

According to The Economic Impact of Tourism Report released today by the Department of State, New Jersey’s travel and tourism industry directly supports 320,238 jobs, a slight increase over 2012 (.526 percent). This is good news for New Jersey, as employment growth in 2013 means that tourism employment has grown for three consecutive years. When combined with indirect and induced jobs, total travel and tourism related jobs exceed 500,000, or 10 percent of all statewide jobs.

“The impact that visitor spending has on creating jobs and essential tax revenue for so many communities statewide cannot be overstated,” added the Lt. Governor. “We look forward to further assisting more tourism-related businesses grow, and in doing so continue to promote the diversity of venues and destinations available to all visitors.”

Other highlights of the annual tourism report include:

· Tourism generated $35.9 billion of state GDP in 2013, or 7 percent of the entire state economy. Were tourism in New Jersey a company, its sales would rank #70 on the Fortune 500 list – bigger than Sears, DuPont and Hess.

· The 320,238 jobs directly supported by tourism spending is larger than the private employment in all but four counties in New Jersey.

· Including both direct and indirect impacts, tourism in New Jersey generated $4.6 billion in state and local taxes and $5.2 billion in federal taxes last year.

· The $4.6 billion tourism generated in state and local taxes is equal to putting $55,750 on every single seat in MetLife Stadium, and represents more than $35 million per mile of coastline in New Jersey.

Beginning this month, New Jersey launched the “Going Strong” campaign to build upon last year’s success. A joint effort by the Division of Travel and Tourism and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the campaign will focus on the diversity of the state’s tourism appeal to visitors of all ages and interests. This includes, but is not limited to, New Jersey’s wealth of historical and cultural assets, its legendary shore destinations, and its collection of world-class entertainment venues. The majority of the digital and social media components are now live, with additional elements to follow.

The Economic Impact of Tourism Report, prepared by Tourism Economics, can be found in its entirety here.

To learn more about destinations and vacation opportunities in New Jersey, visit the Division of Travel and Tourism online at VisitNJ.org

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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