Tourists are flocking back to NYC
People enjoy the sunny weather and a view of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn waterfront, March 21, 2021, in New York. AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File
CITYWIDE — TOURISM IN NYC is almost back to its pre-pandemic levels, according to an analysis released Tuesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the city’s tourism industry, resulting in a 66.5% decline in visitors in 2020 to just 22.3 million people.
In 2023, the number of visitors reached 62.2 million, just 6.6% below the 2019 level, and the city expects visitor numbers to rebound fully by 2025.
Major conferences and events, such as the 2026 World Cup, present opportunities for the industry to continue to “recover and reach new heights,” the Comptroller’s report said.
While the number of visitors was still down in 2023, the city’s hotel market was the top market in the nation, with an occupancy rate of 81.6 percent, an average daily room rate of $301, and revenue per available room at $246.
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