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Tourism is New Hampshire’s second-largest industry–if you combine the state’s smart manufacturing and high technology sectors (SMHT). It’s also a clear point of intersection between government and industry, with the state maintaining a number of parks, campgrounds, and historical sites, and nearby businesses in turn catering to visitors’ needs. Given this close relationship, the state provides funding to market New Hampshire to potential tourists. Some of the heaviest marketing efforts are concentrated in Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. Canadian tourists, especially Quebeçois, also make up a sizable number of New Hampshire’s visitors. From the business perspective, “tourism” is a broad term. It encompasses hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail, and arts and entertainment, among other things. So while statewide reports may indicate overall restaurant or retail sales are up or down, the story might be very different in New Hampshire’s main tourism communities. For these places, weather, gas prices, currency exchange rates, and whether they draw visitors for outdoor activities, site-seeing, or shopping could all be factors.Summary provided by StateImpact NH

N.H. Tourism Officials Expecting 650K Visitors Over Memorial Day Weekend

Robert Garrova for NHPR
The pre-Memorial Day rush view of Lake Winnipesaukee

The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism forecasts the state will see 650,000 out-of-state visitors this Memorial Day weekend.

 

John Howard works on the Winnipesaukee Belle. He expects his lake cruises to be packed, as long as the weather cooperates.

 

"It's very weather-driven, so if the weather holds out, we'll have a great weekend,” Howard said. “If it gets cold and rainy, then we won't."

 

State tourism officials say they expect more than $120 million in spending in the state Friday through Monday with a projected $1.8 billion spent during the summer as a whole.

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