We are talking about the economic impact of winter tourism across upstate New York this weekend on In Focus.

JoDee Kenney speaks with Bob Provost, president and CEO of the New York State Tourism Industry Association, who said on top of the $88 billion in direct visitor spending, the real impact is closer to $140 billion when the indirect benefits are considered. Provost said hotel stays only account for $0.30 of every tourism dollar spent, with restaurants, shops and attractions in each community sharing the remaining 70 cents. Tourism, when done right, Provost said, adds to an area’s quality of life, driving job growth and a robust tax base. It’s the job of county and local tourism officials to enact the best strategies for tourism, while mitigating some of the negatives, like traffic.

When it comes to winter, Provost said New York has more ski areas than any other state, as well as trails for hiking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling available. Provost also talked about a study by BBG&G Integrated Marketing and U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, that shows New Yorkers leave 40 million hours of vacation time unused each year, with 12 million of those hours expiring. The New York State Tourism Industry Association is encouraging people to spend some of that estimated $3 billion left on the table, even on small day trips, that Provost said could generate $750 million in additional payroll for workers and $150 million in state and local tax revenue.

You can watch the full interview with Provost above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.