Tourism in New York - statistics & facts
New York City is iconic. With its soaring skyscrapers and its prominence in movies, music, and art, people across the world have developed a fascination with the Big Apple. It is therefore no shock that it is one of the leading city destinations worldwide, with the total economic impact of tourism in New York reaching 123 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 - a figure that has rebounded since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the health-crisis was a huge blow to the tourism industry in the city, visitor spending has since surpassed pre-pandemic levels. This substantial spending was made by a whopping 56.7 million visitors to New York City in 2022. The city’s popularity also extends to the virtual world, where New York was the second most popular travel destination on Tik Tok in 2023.
From accommodation to entertainment New York’s tourism industry plays an vital role, not just in supporting the local economy, but also the overall economy of the United States.
What do visitors do in New York?
From the razzmatazz of Broadway to the cheering crowds of Madison Square Garden, New York has a wealth of entertainment on offer. In the 2022/23 season, total attendance at Broadway shows reached approximately 123 thousand. Meanwhile, in the same season, the New York Knicks had an average attendance of around 19.4 thousand to their home games at Madison Square Garden, repeatedly filling the stadium to capacity. New York is also home to one of the most visited museums in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The only U.S. museums that ranked higher were part of the world-famous Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., the country's capital. There are also a wide variety of free attractions in New York, including Central Park, Times Square, and the New York Public Library.Where do tourists stay the night in New York?
When looking at what visitors spent the most on in New York, lodging accounted for the highest spending, at approximately 26 million U.S. dollars. This is unsurprising, given that New York was the city with the highest hotel rates in North America in 2023. Airbnb is often an alternative option for travelers on a budget. However, in September 2023, Local Law 18 passed into effect in New York, making it much more difficult to rent out short-term properties. As a result, only around 11 percent of Airbnb rentals in New York are short-term. However, travelers are not at a loss for choice when it comes to hotels, some of the most famous being the Plaza, the Waldorf Astoria, and former artist hotspot, the Hotel Chelsea. Incidentally, both the Plaza and the Waldorf Astoria were some of the most Instagrammed hotels worldwide.From accommodation to entertainment New York’s tourism industry plays an vital role, not just in supporting the local economy, but also the overall economy of the United States.
