Summer tourism expectations: 3% spending increase

State tourism officials expect a 3 percent increase in tourist spending this summer, resulting in an estimated total of $1.68 billion spent by visitors to New Hampshire.Officials of the state Division of Travel and Tourism Development said they expect some 13.6 million travelers making their way to New Hampshire this summer. Many of them will be from bordering states and Canada, where the strong loonie has increased travel and spending by Canadians.An estimated 60 percent of all rooms and meals tax revenue in New Hampshire is collected from tourists each year.Getting the summer season off to a start was the recently concluded Bike Week in Laconia, which this year drew an approximately 250,000 bikers and other visitors.Although estimated numbers show that the number of Bike Week-related visitors has dropped by over 100,000 over the past 10 years, Jennifer Anderson, director of the event, said it remains the state’s single biggest annual draw. — NATALIE GLISSON/NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS REVIEW