Adirondack North Country Association

Market Trend Assessment of Adk. NC Scenic Byways Visitors

Blue Mountain Lake, NY – The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) today released the results of an important new survey of visitors to the Adirondack North Country. Targeted at ’boomer and mature’ first time and occasional visitors, this qualitative survey is the first to provide the results of face-to-face interviews about why travelers come to the Adirondack Region.

The results and implications for tourism related businesses on North Country Scenic Byways were presented to more than 100 local community leaders and owners of tourism services and attractions, and hospitality businesses at a meeting held at the Adirondack Museum. The survey was conducted during the period starting on August 15 and ending on October 15, 2008.

“Through this one-of-a-kind, open-ended, qualitative survey process, we now understand reasons these representative visitors have come to our region for the first time, and more importantly, what brings them back year after year,” said Terry Martino, Executive Director of ANCA.

Sharon O’Brien, Scenic Byways Coordinator at ANCA said, “We have learned what they consider most memorable about their experiences and what they would tell their friends about the best parts of their visits. They also told us their recommendations for ways to improve their experiences on our Scenic Byways, and how they use the Internet and web sites for travel planning. This is important new information that Adirondack Region tourism businesses can use to enhance what they offer visitors.”

The Scenic Byways Market Trend Assessment 2009 report is available at http://adirondackscenicbyways.org/info-for-partners.html. The report includes an analysis of the implications of the results and verbatim comments from those interviewed.

The new ANCA North Country Scenic Byways website, also unveiled at the meeting today, initially provides information about communities and attractions located on the Olympic Scenic Trail, the Adirondack Trail, and the Central Adirondack Trail. Other Byways will be added in the future.

Fuller Communications of Malone, NY, and Holmes & Associates of Saranac Lake, NY developed the survey instrument that was administered by Holmes and Associates in more than 300 face-to-face interviews and online responses.

Financial support for the survey and the new website was provided by a grant to the New York Department of Transportation’s Scenic Byways Program through the Federal Highway Administration Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.

The Adirondack North Country Association is committed to economically viable communities