After NYC was crowned the best city to visit in the U.S., we had a feeling we’d be seeing a flock of tourists heading on over–well, more than we usually see–especially when NYC is home to so many gems, like this park that was named the most Instagrammable landmark in the U.S. So when Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker announced the new end-of-year tourism forecast, we weren’t surprised to learn 2024 saw the second highest number of visitors in city history.
In 2024, nearly 65 million visitors came to New York City, a 3.5% increase from 2023. This solidifies NYC’s title as the most visited city in the United States.
And though we New Yorkers can get a bit frustrated when it comes to tourists–especially when they don’t walk fast enough for us–they definitely have a positive impact on the economy. In fact, visitor activity in 2024 generated an economic impact of $79 billion across multiple sectors including accommodations, dining, entertainment, sports, live theatre, arts and cultural attractions, retail, and transportation.
This economic activity supported over 388,000 leisure and hospitality jobs–which account for approximately 9% of NYC’s workforce–and benefited thousands of small and minority-owned businesses. It also generated more than $6.8 billion in tax revenue, helping to save each NYC household around $2,000.
Moreover, more flights arrive through NYC airports than any other destination in the country, and the city’s subway system and buses saw 10 million more and 3 million more riders than the previous year, respectively.
Mayor Adams stated:
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. NYC remains a dynamic hub for tourism, drawing tens of millions of visitors from around the globe…New York City remains the heartbeat of innovation, culture, and opportunity.
With these numbers, NYC is on pace to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2025, marking a full economic recovery. So, for the tourists who are visiting NYC, we’ve got some advice: try our bagels and pizza, start your morning with a baconeggncheese, and avoid this tourist destination if you don’t want to be disappointed!