Guest opinion: Celebrating our economic backbone

For generations, Tompkins County has welcomed visitors drawn to our scenic landscapes, vibrant cultural experiences, and world-class educational institutions. From travelers marveling at our waterfalls to alumni returning to their alma maters, this corner of the Finger Lakes has long been a place where memories are made and shared. Today, we proudly continue this legacy with each visitor contributing not just to our sense of place, but to the vitality of our local economy.

This year, from May 4–10, we celebrate two important milestones: National Small Business Week and National Travel and Tourism Week. It’s a perfect time to recognize the essential role small businesses play in our community and for the people who visit Tompkins County from every state and 80 countries each year.

Tourism is a powerful part of Tompkins County’s economy. In 2023 alone, visitors spent $253 million locally, directly supporting nearly 3,000 jobs and generating almost $20 million in local taxes. Without our visitors, each household would have to pay an additional $800 each year to maintain the same level of public services. Beyond those numbers, however, tourism brings vitality to our communities: Filling the Ithaca Commons for annual events, making it possible for our museums and cultural venues to create enriching experiences, and introducing new visitors to the magic of Tompkins County.

Importantly, tourism in Tompkins County is deeply intertwined with our small business community. Most of our tourism partners — from inns and boutique hotels to restaurants, theaters, galleries, wineries, and tour companies — are small, locally owned businesses. They are the ones offering memorable experiences, unique products, and warm welcomes to everyone who walks through their doors. When visitors spend money here, they are investing directly in these businesses and our friends and neighbors who make them possible.

Supporting these businesses is a key focus of the Tompkins Chamber, which proudly partners with the Small Business Development Center to help local entrepreneurs and business owners grow and succeed. Working from the Tompkins Chamber office, certified business advisor Michael Herceg has provided crucial support throughout 2024, counseling 158 clients through 1,024 hours of service. Last year, this partnership resulted in 27 new business started, 28 jobs created, and more than $1.6 million invested in small businesses across our county. By strengthening our small business sector, we are helping ensure the long-term vitality of the industries that both residents and visitors depend on.

At Visit Ithaca, we strive every day to reflect the values of Tompkins County: Sustainability, hospitality, and inclusion. Whether welcoming travelers at our Visitor Centers or collaborating with local partners to attract conferences and group tours, we know that every visitor we host leaves with a deeper appreciation for our culture, creativity, and care for one another. The 2024 Visitor Profile Study reinforces that Tompkins County attracts a well-educated, high-spending audience who value the arts, outdoor recreation, and farm-to-table dining. These visitors often return, bringing friends and new connections with them, to invest in the small businesses that make Tompkins County unique.

Yet we must also acknowledge the challenges many of our beloved institutions face. With shifting economic conditions and fewer international travelers expected this year, several of our cultural organizations, key attractions for both residents and visitors, are experiencing unexpected funding cuts and long-promised support. Without steady backing, these spaces may struggle to continue serving the community.

When we support tourism and small businesses, we aren’t just enhancing visitor experiences — we work on your behalf, preserving the very heart of what makes Tompkins County feel like home.

As we mark National Small Business Week and National Travel and Tourism Week, let’s celebrate the people behind the scenes: The service and retail workers, restaurateurs and shopkeepers, artists and performers, and entrepreneurs and event organizers who make Tompkins County shine. Let’s thank them for their resilience, innovation, and dedication to making every visit and every day special.

When visitors choose Tompkins County, they invest in our people, our businesses, and our shared future. We all win when people travel and when small businesses thrive.