The Big Apple continues to be seeing fewer tourists than before the COVID pandemic amid concerns about crime, in response to a report released by the state comptroller’s office Thursday.
The number of people that visited Recent York City last yr — 62.2 million — was about 7% lower than the 66.6 million tourists tallied in 2019, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found.
“Our city and state leaders have to give attention to keeping Recent York a desirable and secure destination for people and families from around the globe,” DiNapoli said in an announcement accompanying the report.
The number of people that visited Recent York City last yr — 62.2 million — was about 7% lower than the 66.6 million tourists tallied in 2019. THANANIT – stock.adobe.com
DiNapoli’s evaluation cited “high prices” as a problem that may very well be contributing to the slower recovery, too, including for business or trade conventions.
“Some visitors might also be hesitant to return amid perceptions of crime and public safety within the City,” the report said, noting Gov. Kathy Hochul deploying the National Guard within the subways in response to a series of highly publicized violent crimes, together with beefed up police presence on the rails.
The town has also seen a couple of recent high-profile attacks on visitors, including a Pennsylvania mom who was randomly stabbed within the chest while chaperoning schoolgirls on a category trip in Times Square earlier this month.
Two teens from Paraguay were stabbed in an unprovoked attack in Grand Central Terminal on Christmas Day, while a person from Brazil was knifed within the neck at a Queens subway station in February.
The lag was especially striking with international tourism, which, while up from 2022, was still 14% down in comparison with 2019.
That’s a priority because foreigners spend considerably extra money than domestic tourists once they visit. Spending from international travelers continues to be down 20% from pre-pandemic era, the report found.
MTA PD, together with the NYPD, National Guard, and NYS Troopers, conducted random bag checks at Grand Central Station on the 4,5,6 subway line in Manhattan on March 13, 2024. James Messerschmidt
Tourists from China represented the biggest share of worldwide tourists in 2019, now visitors from the UK are the largest share.
The report noted the COVID-19 lockdowns and travel bans were in place for an extended period in China, and that impacted the variety of travelers from there.
Domestic travelers, especially those making leisure trips, fared higher.
“Our city and state leaders have to give attention to keeping Recent York a desirable and secure destination for people and families from around the globe,” DiNapoli said in an announcement accompanying the report. AFP via Getty Images
The 50.6 million US visitors to the Big Apple in 2023 were 7% greater than in 2022 — but still 5% lower than visitors in 2019.
“Conference-based business return can also be vital for the City as that is one area where visitors have returned faster in other large cities,” DiNapoli said.
Revenue and spending from tourism are up overall, but that has more to do with rising prices for hotel rooms and other costs, the comptroller noted.
DiNapoli’s evaluation cited “high prices” as a problem that may very well be contributing to the slower recovery, too, including for business or trade conventions. ZUMAPRESS.com
Meanwhile, there are still nearly 30,000 fewer staff within the tourism-related sector in comparison with 2019, with jobs down 10% in restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues.
Tourism- related retail jobs are still down by 9,172 or 16.8%, with less foot traffic in tourist areas.
The lag in tourism contrasts with a complete recovery of jobs Gotham lost in the course of the coronavirus outbreak.
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DiNapoli emphasized that the image has improved the past few years and the town is near recovering all of the jobs lost in the course of the pandemic, and will achieve this next yr.
“The variety of tourists is sort of back to pre-pandemic numbers in Recent York City,” DiNapoli said.
“Visitor spending and the tax revenue this industry generates already exceed pre-pandemic levels, however the industry’s recovery won’t be complete until we see a full return of international and business travelers, and a full recovery of local jobs.”
Members of the Recent York State National Guard keep watch over commuters as they stand guard in a checkpoint contained in the entrance of a subway station in Recent York City on March 7, 2024. REUTERS
The town hotel occupancy rate was 81.6%, highest amongst top markets within the nation — but still lower than 89.6% in 2019.
The evaluation said the migrant crisis contributed to the hotel industry’s bottom line, boosting gross profits by 47% from 2022 to 2023.
1000’s of hotel rooms were taken off the market and the town paid hoteliers a mean of $156 per room and provided full occupancy.
These were mostly small and medium-sized hotels, many within the outer boroughs.
A shocking video still of the moment a migrant mob pounded a pair of cops near Times Square on Jan. 27, 2024. DCPI
Meanwhile, the larger, popular hotels mostly within the Manhattan tourism sector, charged a mean of $301 per room.
The top of the Recent York City Hotel Association said the town tourism market has a ways to go when taking a look at the worldwide competition.
“The hotel industry not only lags its numbers of 2019, a benchmark yr for many industries, but in addition lags its competitors in other major international gateway cities like London and Paris. Each of those markets surpassed their 2019 numbers in 2023,” said NYC Hotel Association CEO Vijay Dandapani.
He also said surveys show that Recent York City “scores low within the perception of safety” as well for top costs.
Dandapani also said 16,000 hotel rooms were taken off the market to house migrants and 6,000 hotel other rooms closed in the course of the pandemic.
The town hotel occupancy rate can be lower without the numerous reduction in marketable hotel rooms, he said.
