New York officials say the state had nearly 244 million visitors in 2017, helping boost the state’s tourism industry to record levels for total visitation, economic impact and direct spending.

The Cuomo administration says tourism had an economic impact of $108.7 billion last year, with visitors directly spending $67.6 billion. Officials say the totals increased more than 4 percent over 2016.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office released the figures after Sunday’s sixth annual Adirondack Challenge. The Democrat created the three-day event that includes whitewater rafting and mountain biking to highlight the North Country’s recreational tourism.

Sunday’s final events in Indian Lake featured Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (HOH’-kuhl), who stood in for Cuomo, a participant in past Adirondack Challenges.

Officials say 12.4 million people visited the Adirondacks last year, an increase of 460,000 over 2016.

(AP)