Manhattan’s most recognizable tourist magnet is suddenly looking a little less magnetic. Visits to the Empire State Building Observatory have plunged as international tourism weakens and New York’s growing collection of skyline attractions gives travelers more ways to spend their sightseeing dollars.
The downturn was detailed in a new report from Crain’s New York Business, which tied the observatory’s softer attendance to falling foreign tourism and intensifying competition. That is an uncomfortable combination for a landmark whose business model depends on visitors paying a premium to see the city from above.
The Slide Was Already Visible In Early 2026
The Empire State Building Observatory hosted about 350,000 visitors during the first quarter, compared with 428,000 during the same period in 2025, an 18.2% drop, according to an Empire State Realty Trust filing. Observatory revenue fell 20.1% year over year to $18.5 million, with the company specifically pointing to lower international visitation.
The company’s latest investor materials show the problem is not just a one-quarter blip. Empire State Realty Trust’s presentation identifies reduced international tourism and weakness in its pass-program channel as near-term challenges, even while touting the building’s global brand and strong media profile.
The longer trend is also moving in the wrong direction. Empire State Realty Trust reported in its 2025 annual report that the observatory welcomed roughly 2.3 million visitors last year, down from 2.6 million in both 2024 and 2023, and still well below the 3.5 million visitors recorded in 2019.
New York Tourism Is Holding Up Better Than Foreign Travel
New York City’s broader tourism picture is more complicated than a simple empty-sidewalk story. NYC Tourism + Conventions reported that the city received 12.5 million international visitors in 2025, a 3.2% decline from the year before, even as tourism generated $84.7 billion in economic impact.
Domestic travelers have helped cushion the blow, but they do not necessarily replace international tourists one for one at major attractions. A report from the New York State Comptroller’s Office said strong domestic demand helped keep New York’s hotel industry among the nation’s strongest while warning that the city remains vulnerable to continued losses in international travel.
The Skyline Now Has Plenty Of Competing Views
The Empire State Building also has a more crowded field than it did a generation ago. Empire State Realty Trust has identified competing observatories at the World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center, Hudson Yards and One Vanderbilt, giving visitors choices that range from classic open-air views to immersive, selfie-ready experiences.
That competition is particularly awkward for the Empire State Building because some of the newer decks offer what the landmark cannot: a view of the Empire State Building itself. The company is still promoting a heavily upgraded visitor experience, and the building was named the top attraction in the United States in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards, according to an Empire State Building announcement.
For now, the iconic tower is trying to make fewer visitors spend more while waiting for overseas demand to recover. The view remains famous; the business of selling it has entered a much tougher climb.
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