Salem's Halloween Boom: A New Record!

Salem, Massachusetts just set a new record for Halloween visitors! The city welcomed 87, 351 visitors on October 31, shattering last year's record of 63, 856. This spooky influx is part of the annual Haunted Happenings festival, which brought in 1, 040, 600 visitors this October—an 8. 6% increase from last year. So, what’s behind this creepy-cool trend? Salem credits its rich history, particularly the notorious Salem Witch Trials of 1692, for drawing visitors in droves. The city’s reputation as a global Halloween hotspot also plays a big role. Plus, the warm weather this year definitely helped! City officials are proud of the achievement but acknowledge it comes with challenges. “Welcoming so many visitors is a big deal, ” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo. He thanked city workers and residents for their patience and noted how tourism supports local businesses. Salem sees around 1. 8 million visitors each year, generating about $140 million in tourism spending and supporting 1, 000 jobs. "Our visitor economy is what keeps our small businesses thriving and adds vibrancy to our city, " Pangallo added.