Section 826. Statement of legislative intent

The upstate and downstate New
  York regions possess unique  scenic  beauty  and  natural  and  cultural
  resources  of state and national significance. From Niagara Falls to the
  Finger Lakes and the wine country, to central New York, to the Tug  Hill
  plateau,  to  the Thousand Islands and the Saint Lawrence seaway, to the
  Adirondacks and the source of the Hudson river, to the Champlain valley,
  to the Glens Falls/Saratoga  region,  to  the  capital  region,  to  the
  Taconics,  to  the Catskill mountains, to the lower Hudson River valley,
  to New York city and the Statue of Liberty, to  Ellis  Island  and  Long
  Island,  to  the southern tier, to western New York, to the Great Lakes,
  and everywhere in between, the state offers a rich and unique mosaic  of
  tourism  destinations.  These  include the new Natural History Museum of
  the Adirondacks, the freedom heritage  trail  honoring  the  underground
  railway,  the  canal way trail system, other museums, state parks, zoos,
  performing  arts  centers,  sports  arenas,  amusement  parks,   natural
  wonders,   and   points  of  cultural,  historic,  educational,  ethnic,
  religious, agricultural, and commercial interest; all of  which  provide
  able  and  disabled  local,  domestic  and foreign tourists with special
  places  of  scenic,  cultural  and  ecological  importance.  It  is  the
  intention  of  the  legislature  that efforts to promote tourism in such
  areas be continued and strengthened under the cooperative efforts of the
  upstate and downstate New York tourism councils, in  order  to  continue
  and  advance the state's commitment to the preservation, enhancement and
  development of the world-renowned scenic,  natural,  historic,  cultural
  and  recreational  resources  in the upstate and downstate regions while
  continuing to emphasize economic development activities and  to  enhance
  tourism   and  its  role  in  improving  the  economy,  livelihoods  and
  well-being of upstate residents and their environment.