With warmer weather arriving, many New Yorkers are starting to look forward to summer travel plans. Cities, towns and businesses are all getting ready for residents and tourists to flock to their areas.

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel joins Marisa Jacques to discuss supporting small businesses ahead of the tourism season.

Wendel estimates that nearly half a billion dollars annually comes into Chautauqua County due in part to the presence of Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie and the tourism opportunities they provide. Wendel estimates 90% or better of the tourism options in the county involve the outdoors. The Chautauqua Institution also provides an economic boom to the county. 

"Tourism for us is a big, vital part of everything we do," Wendel said. 

As for supporting local businesses, Wendel says many belong to the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, which works to increase publicity and marketing outside of the county.

The National Comedy Center is also expanding its marketing reach to the Pittsburgh region.

He also spoke on the importance of short-term rentals, which have exploded in popularity in the last number of years. 

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