Cuomo announces new programs during Adirondack Challenge

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sunday conducted the third annual 2015 Summer Adirondack Challenge to promote summer tourism and showcase recreational opportunities in the Adirondack region. The event brought together hundreds of state and local officials, tourism industry representatives and summer enthusiasts to explore upstate New York and enjoy local Taste NY food and beverage products.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo headed north Sunday to the Adirondack Mountains to promote the area’s outdoor recreational activities — from whitewater rafting and hiking to fishing, canoeing and horseback riding. “The Adirondacks are truly one of New York’s crown jewels and I know that once people see them for themselves, they will fall in love and keep coming back,” Cuomo said, noting that stronger tourism means new jobs and improved local economies. Sunday’s program in Indian Lake, included a whitewater rafting trip down the Indian River; golfing at Cedar River Golf Course; a 6-mile hike to Ross Pond; fishing at Cedar Creek; a 68-mile motorcycle ride; and paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking. Credit: Courtesy the Office of the Governor

At the Adirondack Challenge, the governor announced four investments to strengthen tourism in Upstate New York:

“I Love NY Cash and Travel” lottery ticket, a new instant win scratch-off available beginning this fall with a chance to win a New York state trip or up to $25,000 in cash, with second chance prize of $50 scratch-off tickets and $25 of I Love NY merchandise.

I Love NY Marketing Campaign, an extended, outdoors-specific campaign kicks off this August and will be featured on 700 New York City buses, promoting an array of activities in the Adirondacks and other vacation regions.

$2 million for campgrounds in the Catskills and Adirondacks: The Department of Environmental Conservation will perform improvements and upgrades to campgrounds in the Adirondacks and Catskill Forest Preserves.

Adirondack Park Website and Mobile App to promote tourism and allow users to plan their next trip to the Adirondacks. The website, www.DiscoverAdkPark.com, and mobile app are free and feature a comprehensive, user friendly platform with 4,000 recreation and destination listings for visitors to choose from.

“The Adirondacks are truly one of New York’s crown jewels and I know that once people see them for themselves, they will fall in love and keep coming back,” Cuomo said. “From the Adirondack Challenge to these new state initiatives, we are getting the word out in order to grow tourism in this region, as well as other parts of upstate, which in turn will create jobs and improve these local economies.”

A total of 350 Adirondack Challenge participants, including New York State Tourism Advisory Council Vice Chair Thurman Thomas, joined in some of the region’s most alluring outdoor activities, including: a whitewater rafting trip down the Indian River; golfing at Cedar River Golf Course; a 6-mile hike to Ross Pond; fishing at Cedar Creek; a 68-mile motorcycle ride though the Adirondack Park; and paddle boarding, canoeing kayaking at Byron Park in Indian Lake.

In 2014, tourism statewide totaled a $100.1 billion economic impact, the highest in New York history.