Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry across New York State. One Central New York City is trying to capitalize on millions in investments.
“So strategically I think this summer in this year is more important than any other year because after two years of the COVID pandemic, people are eager more than ever to get out and get active," said Mayor Billy Barlow.
Barlow in the city of Oswego have put in work to get people back to the port city. The indoor waterpark is still a few months away, but there's new outdoor park amenities, growing local business districts and a summer full of live entertainment.
“We already see some of the return on that investment but we still have a ways to go word of mouth to get out there to get people here to see all the changes that we've made,” Barlow added.
Those changes fueled heavily by state and federal funding are also helped by tax and tourism dollars that come in, like financial cycle. The goal this summer is to get that rolling.
“When we try to put these packages of projects together. What we try to do is number one, give us we'll residents things to do all year long, but also attract people from all over Central New York buy land from the Syracuse area and also by boat on Lake Ontario," said Barlow.
Either avenue can get you to the weekly farmers market where Paine Farms is doling out fresh produce from their farm in nearby Fulton.
“It’s good to be able to show like why you can grow and be able to sell it and see people that are buying and want to eat it,” said Jeremy Paine, selling everything from beans to zucchini’s and ears of corn on a hot July Thursday. “I'm busier than last year in the year before.”
Just down the block is Salina’s Sweet Creations more than glad to see the bustling crowd.
“It's definitely been better this year. Last year was a little bit spotty people were still a little bit nervous coming out and getting close,” said owner Saline Kellison. ”Especially being a home based business, it was a little harder.”
While there are events like this all over the place. Anything that brings people into any one location is good for local business and the community.
“I have definitely had quite a few out of town customers. So I definitely think these small little things I mean, it makes a little town that's on the lake even more attractive,” she said.
A big draw this year the new tiki tours out on Lake Ontario something that Captain Dan Burdick runs and gets to talk to sold out crowds about their experience elsewhere in the Port City.
“Oswego’s got something for everybody right now,” he said. “It's I mean, it used to be 10 years ago, people will try to figure out what beer specials were and now it's where's the live music on what night I mean it's amazing out here.”
These tours out on the water and around the city give some perspective on life through the pandemic.
“All the people are coming out be neighbors, you know, I mean it didn't used to, you know, there's a couple of years there where we didn't have your neighbors didn't You didn't really talk to him much. You're kinda hiding in your own little circle.”
The more tourism dollars come in the higher quality of life for the city, county and region.
“The improvements we've done will only continue in the form of more tourism dollars more visitors more happy residents,” Barlow added. “Not only this year, but many more years to come.”