Visit Rochester says tourism in the city and county is back and booming, a major turnaround from last year.

The group says most local tourism starts with family inviting friends to check out what the region has to offer.

"This was a billion-dollar economic impact for Monroe County and that is going to come back,” Don Jeffries, president and CEO of Visit Rochester, said. “When people visit Rochester, it's new money into our community. And that helps everybody. It helps the economy, the restaurants, the hotels, the dry cleaners, the gas station. Everybody benefits from tourism."

People are traveling again and attractions are back open like the Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester Museum and Science Center, Seabreeze and the Strong Museum of Play. And while the Jazz and Park Avenue Festivals were canceled last year, Jeffries says smaller events are contacting Visit Rochester to help get the word out, so there is something to do almost every weekend.

"We're really excited,” Jeffries adds. “We feel the energy, the spirit, the ability to have fun again and be outside. And there's no place better than Monroe County for outside activities, museums. We have it all. And all you have to do is get out and enjoy it. We're asking everybody to invite family and friends to come and visit Rochester and experience the fun and the excitement that we're all feeling to be back."

If you have family and friends visiting, Jeffries says hotels have reopened and a new Courtyard Marriott has opened on East Avenue.