TRENTON –Statement submitted on behalf of Senator Barbara Buono at the first public meeting today of the Heritage Tourism Task Force. Senator Buono sponsored the law which created the task force.
“Tourism in New Jersey is multi-billion dollar industry. Generating more than $37 billion in spending last year alone, and creating nearly 500,000 jobs, the tourism industry stimulates a wide array of economic sectors. Historic preservation has widely acknowledged cultural and aesthetic benefits, but less known and appreciated are preservation’s significant economic effects. Heritage Tourism can help to build a sense of community and enhance economic development through added employment, economic activity, and tax revenue.