ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Not even Superstorm Sandy could wash away a historic tourist season last year in New Jersey.
Gov. Chris Christie said tourism accounted for nearly $40 billion, up from $38 billion in 2011.
About 82.5 million visitors came to New Jersey last year, an increase of nearly 5 percent over 2011 levels.
The
storm hit on Oct. 29, after the summer tourism season had ended. Many
tourism-related businesses and shore communities said good weather
during the summer led to a good season through Labor Day weekend.
Christie
says the positive tourism numbers are tempered by the need to rebuild
tourist destinations like the Jersey Shore that were damaged by Sandy.
Tourism is New Jersey's third-largest industry, after pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
