Tourism in New Jersey is on a major upswing, according to data released this week by the state. About 111 million people visited New Jersey in 2018 – a 7.4 percent increase over 2017. The economic impact of all those visitors, according to the state Division of Travel and Tourism, was $44.7 billion.
“The results released today make clear that New Jersey’s natural landscape, picturesque cities and towns, and abundant shoreline are in a class of their own, and attracting more visitors than ever,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a news release. “In the years to come and as this critical industry continues to grow, I look forward to joining families from around the world in enjoying what New Jersey has to offer, supporting the businesses and communities that make our state special.”
A strong portion of that uptick was a result of the resurgence of Atlantic City, which saw two new casino hotels open – the Ocean Resort Casino and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Ocean is the former Revel, a long-closed and controversial complex that symbolized Atlantic City’s deep troubles in the middle part of the decade. The Hard Rock opened in the former Trump Taj Mahal, another troubled property.