Chamber: Travelers are discovering Concord

Tourism is booming in New Hampshire. In fall 2021, the state broke records with 4.3 million visitors spending nearly $2 billion. Not only is this an increase from recent years, which were deeply affected by COVID-19, but shows a significant rise from pre-pandemic tourism levels. The Merrimack Valley Region saw an outstanding increase in travel, with 990,000 visitors spending $577.2 million, which is the highest visitor turnout in over a decade. Tourists from across the country are looking to New Hampshire, and Concord specifically, when making plans for a memorable, relaxing vacation.

Taking a closer look, you can see why Concord is an ideal destination for these travelers. The top visitor activities in New Hampshire during fall 2021 included scenic drives, dining and shopping, exploring nature and visiting breweries. Concord has it all — over 85 miles of hiking trails and open spaces, an award-winning downtown with unique shops and restaurants, and three unique craft breweries. Concord has been referred to as New Hampshire’s best-kept secret, but word is getting out about our capital city’s picturesque downtown, numerous attractions and beautiful forests.

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce established a platform in 2018 to attract tourists to the region. Visit Concord NH is a website, blog and accompanying social media channels that tell people about all that the city of Concord has to offer visitors. Created by Jayme Simoes of Louis Karno & Company Communications, LLC, this initiative has grown into a key tourism tool for the city. Some recent blog articles featured shopping ideas for Pride Month, downtown parking hacks, local brunch spots and more. You can read all of these articles at visitconcord-nh.com. Follow Visit Concord NH on social media to learn about new businesses, downtown art, community events and to chat online with other individuals who love New Hampshire’s capital city. Go to facebook.com/visitconcordnh or @visitconcord on Instagram or @visitconcordnh on Twitter.

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce also showcases the Capital Region through eye-catching publications that can be found in local hotels, restaurants, attractions, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, and welcome centers throughout the state.

The Map & Guide is a large fold-out map of Concord, with key features marked so that visitors can easily find attractions and navigate the city. It’s widely distributed, with 40,000 copies made. New this year, the map includes the path of A Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Concord, and QR code to gain easy access to accompanying historical facts and photos.

The Guidebook to Greater Concord is a glossy magazine that the Chamber produces in partnership with the Concord Monitor. The 2022 edition is coming soon, and includes lists of restaurants, festivals, hotels and attractions, along with captivating articles that give visitors a taste of the welcoming community and beautiful atmosphere in Concord. People across the U.S. order visitor packets from the Chamber that include these publications, along with a sampling of local brochures. Travelers also stop by the Capital Region Visitor Center at 49 South Main Street to pick up this travel information and ask the welcoming Chamber staff and Granite State Ambassadors for trip recommendations.

The rise in visitors to Concord has a profound positive impact on our city’s small businesses and helps our local economy continue to grow and thrive. Many new businesses have popped up across the city, and future developments will expand the downtown area. Over the next few years, Concord is likely to see an exciting growth of shops and restaurants, making our city one of New England’s top travel destinations.

Look for News You Want to Know here in The Concord Monitor once a month.

Incorporated in 1919, New Hampshire’s state capital chamber of commerce — the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce — develops economic opportunities, strengthens the business climate and enhances quality of life in the Capital region.