Seasonal Tourism Economies in New England (2019–2024)
New England’s six states – Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut – each have vibrant seasonal economies heavily driven by tourism. From summer beach towns to autumn leaf-peeping and winter ski resorts, the region’s economy ebbs and flows with the seasons. Tourism is a cornerstone of New England’s economic activity: for example, Vermont’s 2023 visitors (15.8 million people) spent a record $4 billion, about 9.3% of the state’s GDP (New Data Shows Tourism is $4B Industry in Vermont | Agency of Commerce and Community Development) (New Data Shows Tourism is $4B Industry in Vermont | Agency of Commerce and Community Development). Likewise, Massachusetts saw 52.3 million visitors (50.2 million domestic and 2.1 million international) in 2023 who spent $23.6 billion ( Massachusetts Tourism statistics ) ( Massachusetts Tourism statistics ). This report provides a comprehensive overview of the largest seasonal tourism economies in each New England state, the types of seasonal attractions and their peak seasons, recent tourism traffic and revenue statistics (2019–2024 trends), the industry breakdown of seasonal businesses, and the challenges (labor, regulatory, environmental) faced by small businesses in seasonal economies. Finally, it offers recommendations to improve the sustainability and resilience of these seasonal business communities. The intended audience – small business owners, non-profits, chambers of commerce, membership organizations, and regional banks – can use these insights for strategic planning and advocacy.
