NY Gov. Cuomo touts cold-weather upstate tourism with Adirondack Winter Challenge

After taking a ride on a snowmobile near Lake Placid, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced several initiatives Sunday to boost winter tourism in the Adirondacks and persuade Canadians to shop south of the border in New York state.

A promotion called "Ski NY Spring Break" will offer discount skiing across the state from March 13 to 31. The "I Shop NY" campaign partners with the state's Retail Council to advertise New York stores in key Canadian markets from March 22 to April 6.

"Tourism has boomed over the last four years, thanks to I Love NY, the Adirondack Winter and Summer Challenges, and other initiatives that show the world all that upstate has to offer," Cuomo said. "New York has some of the most beautiful mountains, vistas and attractions in the world."

The Democratic governor made the announcements at the 2015 Adirondack Winter Challenge, which included snowmobiling, bobsledding and a variety of ice sports in Lake Placid followed by an awards banquet. Numerous state and local officials participated.

In 2014, New York's tourism industry generated a projected $62 million in direct spending, producing an estimated $7.8 billion in state and local sales taxes, according to the Cuomo administration. The number of visitors to New York is estimated to have increased by 4 percent, or 8.75 million people, to 227.5 million in 2014.

Total visitation to the Adirondack region increased by 2.9 percent to 4.59 million between 2011 and 2013, according to Cuomo. Spending increased more than 6 percent to $1.25 billion and tourism employment increased 5.5 percent.

The upcoming ski promotion, launched in partnership with the Ski Association of New York, will include a downloadable coupon for 25 percent off equipment rental, lesson and lift ticket packages, which is available at http://www.iskiny.com .