SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY – (June 7, 2016) – Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Wayne Horsley of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (LICVB), Long Island Wine Council and the Suffolk County Department of Parks jointly announced today the relaunch of the Stay Suffolk local tourism campaign.

Stay Suffolk is designed to enhance the region’s $5.3 billion tourism industry by encouraging residents to take advantage of the world-class amenities Suffolk County has to offer and explore the various attractions that draw more than 9.1 million to the County each year.

“It is easy to take living in our region for granted. When most people think of vacation spots, they do not often think of their own backyards,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.  “However, Suffolk County is home to wonderful destinations, such as world-class beaches, wine country, pristine golf courses, our vibrant downtowns and much more.  By exploring all the activities our region has to offer, you can have a perfect vacation without the expense of long-distance travel, and most importantly, support our local tourism industry that generates nearly $2.9 billion for Suffolk County each year.”

“The Long Island State Parks is the heart of your Long Island vacation,” said Wayne Horsley, Regional Director of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.  There is something here for everyone to enjoy.”

"We are happy to support the Stay Suffolk Initiative to encourage local residents to enjoy the endless tourism amenities in their own backyard," said Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO, Kristen Jarnagin. "Tourism is a critical economic driver that supports 120,000 Long Island jobs and generates $600 million in local and state tax revenues, so when we Stay Suffolk and support local businesses, we all benefit from the results."

“The Long Island Wine Council is thrilled to support the "Stay Suffolk" initiative,” said Ali Tuthill of the Long Island Wine Council. “The East End of Long Island has quickly become one of the top destinations for high quality wine and food and we welcome visitors to come meet our winemakers, taste our product and spend time with our community. What makes our wine region so unique is the diversity of our wines and experiences that our producers offer to visitors.  Families and wine aficionados alike can be treated to a world class experience, all while enjoying the beauty of Long Island.”

According to a study conducted by Tourism Economics through Empire State Development, the tourism industry is responsible for approximately 120,000 jobs, including more than 40,000 jobs in Suffolk County each year.  In Suffolk County, more than $352 million in local and state taxes are generated alone through tourism.

The campaign will encompass an interactive social media relaunch, encouraging all residents who Stay Suffolk to post pictures on their Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts of their favorite local vacation spots using the hashtag, #StaySuffolk.

The social media component will also include weekly information on various Suffolk County travel destinations at Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s facebook page, facebook.com/stevebellone.

For more information on the Stay Suffolk local tourism campaign, visit www.StaySuffolkLI.com, www.suffolkcountyny.gov, www.discoverlongisland.com and  www.facebook.com/stevebellone.