Hochul launches I LOVE NY Black
Initiative aims to harness Empire State’s many ties to Black history and culture
ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday rolled out plans for an I LOVE NY Black travel initiative, designed to grow the state’s tourism and encourage Black visitors.
Building on programs like I LOVE NY LGBTQ and Accessible NY that highlight destinations of interest to and supportive of specific travel communities, I LOVE NY BLACK will harness attractions such as the dozens of Underground Railroad sites, one of the nation’s largest Juneteenth festivals as well as numerous historic ties to Black history.
New York has deep connections to leaders like Fredrick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, and it’s the state where hip-hop was born. Museums and venues celebrating Black culture, art and heritage can be seen throughout the state, including the Jackie Robinson Museum in Lower Manhattan, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn and the Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo.
Though not specifically mentioned in Friday’s written announcement, the Capital Region and surrounding areas have numerous sites of prominence. Albany is where the State Museum and the Underground Railroad stop at Stephen and Harriet
Myers residence are located, and it was the home of World War I hero Henry Johnson.
In Albany the State Museum through March 5 has an exhibition entitled “Courage: The Black New York Struggle for Quality Education.” And at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, the Schenectady County Historical Society is presenting a program titled “A History Erased: Free Black Schenectadians of the 19th Century.” For more information, go to the Historical Society at https:// schenectadyhistorical.org/ event/erased/.
Tourism impacts
The annual economic impact of tourism and travel in New York state as of 2021 is $85.5 billion. The tourism and hospitality sector is the state’s third-largest industry, supporting one in 10 private sector jobs.
Black travelers represent more than 13 percent of the domestic leisure travel market, spending over $109 billion annually.
In a survey of Black travelers, 64 percent reported that the availability of Black culture and heritage attractions is important when making a destination choice.
Another survey of Black travelers reported that diversity in marketing is a top factor when choosing a travel destination, with 54 percent of U.S. Black travelers more likely to visit a destination with
Black representation in advertising. The initiative will note New York’s “unparalleled Black history, culture, food, and arts,” Hochul said during an announcement at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City, as part of the state’s commemoration of Black History Month.
The state Division of Tourism will use existing relationships with international travel trade operators to encourage the creation of Black travel itineraries and engage travel journalists and content creators to share what Black travelers and their friends and families would appreciate. I LOVE NY will also collaborate with other state agencies and local tourism promotion agencies to amplify their Black travel messaging, Hochul’s office said.