09/01/2026
Oneida County Visitor Spending Tops $2.1 Billion, Supporting One in Six County Jobs
New state report finds tourism generated $202 million in tax revenue and offset $2,122 per Oneida County household
August 27, 2026 (Utica, NY) - Oneida County's visitor economy generated more than $2.1 billion in direct spending in 2025, supported 16,422 jobs and produced $202.0 million in state and local tax revenue, according to the latest Economic Impact of Visitors to New York report.
Prepared by Tourism Economics for Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, the report shows that Oneida County remains the largest driver of tourism activity in the eight-county Central New York region. The county accounted for 60% of the region's $3.54 billion in visitor spending in 2025.
2025 Tourism Impact at a Glance
*$2.103 billion in visitor spending, an increase of 1.3% from $2.077 billion in 2024.
*16,422 tourism-supported jobs, representing 16.2% of all employment in Oneida County - approximately one in every six jobs.
*$202.0 million in state and local tax revenue, including $113.7 million in state taxes and $88.4 million in local taxes.
*$2,122 in annual household tax relief. Without visitor-generated tax revenue, the average Oneida County household would need to pay that much more each year to maintain the same level of government services.
*55.8% of Central New York's tourism tax base, the largest share among the region's eight counties.
Visitor spending extended across nearly every segment of Oneida County's economy in 2025:
*Lodging: $778.8 million
*Food and beverage: $533.5 million
*Retail and service stations: $481.4 million
*Recreation: $215.1 million
*Transportation: $53.6 million
*Second homes: $41.0 million
Together, lodging, food and beverage, and retail and service stations represented approximately 85% of all visitor spending in the county.
“Tourism is one of the strongest economic engines we have in Oneida County, and these numbers demonstrate the impact of the investments we have made to grow it,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “The success of Turning Stone and its recent expansion, the Nexus Center and other major attractions and developments has helped establish our county as a destination for major events, entertainment and visitors from across the country. That translates directly into jobs, business activity and tax revenue, with visitors generating more than $200 million in state and local taxes last year alone. We have built a tourism economy that is delivering real results, and we will continue investing in the infrastructure and amenities needed to keep that momentum going.”
"These figures show how deeply the visitor economy is connected to everyday life in Oneida County," said Sarah Foster Calero, President of Oneida County Tourism. "Visitor spending reaches hotels and attractions, but it also supports restaurants, retailers, recreation businesses, and the people they employ. Just as importantly, visitor-generated taxes help fund public services while reducing the burden on local households. Our work is about keeping Oneida County competitive and ensuring the benefits of tourism reach our businesses, communities and residents."
Oneida County's visitor spending increased by $26.6 million in 2025, while state and local tourism tax revenue increased by approximately $5.8 million. Across Central New York, visitor spending grew 2.1% to $3.54 billion.
The county's 2025 results reflect the breadth of its visitor economy, including leisure travel, meetings and conferences, sporting events and tournaments, group travel, and visits tied to the region's cultural, culinary and outdoor assets. Looking ahead, continued activity at the Utica University Nexus Center and major private investment through the Turning Stone Evolution are expected to further strengthen the destination's ability to attract visitors and host events.
The full 2025 Central New York regional report is available through Empire State Development.
About the Report:
The 2025 Economic Impact of Visitors to New York report was prepared by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, for Empire State Development and I LOVE NY. It measures visitor spending and the direct, indirect and induced effects of tourism on business sales, personal income, employment and tax revenue. The analysis uses the IMPLAN input-output model and data from government and industry sources.
About Oneida County Tourism:
Oneida County Tourism is the official tourism promotion agency for Oneida County, NY. Through strategic marketing and public relations, partner support, and advocacy, the organization works to attract visitors across leisure, meetings, sports, group travel, and film/TV production. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, OCT is dedicated to strengthening the visitor economy while showcasing the region's heritage, culture, communities and natural assets. Learn more at oneidacountytourism.com.
