Mayor Eric Adams and the head of NYC Tourism + Conventions, Julie Coker, have pronounced a surge in tourists to New York City, with the numbers almost touching 65 million this year, marking this as the second highest in the city's history. A recent City of New York press release reveals that the city's popularity as a global destination is growing, with expectations to surpass pre-pandemic visitation records by 2025, indicating a strong economic recovery.
Adams shared in the same release, "With nearly 65 million visitors this year — the second highest figure in our city’s history — New York City has once again solidified its position as the premier destination in the nation and one of the top travel spots in the world. New York City remains a dynamic hub for tourism, drawing tens of millions of visitors from around the globe and bringing in $79 billion in economic impact. Whether visiting for business or pleasure, the five boroughs has everything you need, from conference halls to theatres to restaurants and hotels — New York City remains the heartbeat of innovation, culture, and opportunity. And we’re looking forward to beating our own tourism record next year with a full recovery.”
According to Coker's remarks, tourism's recovery is clear, with direct spending reaching over $51 billion. This boosted New York's state and local economies, supporting 388,000 jobs in leisure and hospitality, about 9 percent of the city's workforce. The influx of visitor spending also generated more than $6.8 billion in tax revenues in 2024, saving New York City households roughly $2,000 each in the process.
Transportation networks like the New York City subway have shown a strong recovery, with over a billion trips expected by the end of 2024. October saw the highest subway and bus usage since the pandemic, significantly surpassing last year's numbers. Meanwhile, the local retail sector is also recovering, supported by the Adams administration's strategies and a strong holiday shopping season that created jobs and boosted the economy.
The city's status as a top destination was reinforced when Mayor Adams and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy were selected to host the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final. The event is expected to generate over $2 billion in economic impact, create more than 14,000 jobs, and attract over a million visitors, with half of them anticipated to be non-ticketholders, benefiting local businesses and economies in the New York/New Jersey area.
