Attractions, movie tax credit expected to draw more visitors

ROCK HILL, N.Y. » The muchanticipated new tourist attractions coming to Sullivan County and the enhanced filmmaking state tax credit are expected to catapult the visitor traffic to the Catskills region.

Those were among the topics of discussion at Friday’s State Hospitality and Tourism Association roundtable.

Among those state officials participating were state Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-Middletown.

Sullivan County Visitors Association President Roberta Byron-Lockwood said that, since the increased tax credit took effect, two productions were filmed in her county.

“That has already moved in a lot of great directions for us,” she said.

Rick Remsnyder, Ulster County’s tourism director, said while the film industry has traditionally been vibrant in his county, it is even more robust since the tax credit was placed on par with the 40 percent credit in the New York City metropolitan area.

“We are thinking this is something that is going to be a real game changer in the region and specifically in Ulster County,” Remsnyder said.

The Montreign-Adelaar facility and Veria Lifestyle Spa are expected to boost tourism traffic in Sullivan, and an additional $8 million influx of funding for the Belleayre Mountain Ski Area in Ulster County is expected to help grow the outdoor tourism industry there.