In 2019, NYC tourism hit its highest point yet with 66.6 million visitors…but then the pandemic hit.
In 2020, that number fell to 22.3 million visitors. Still, the city hopes to gain those numbers back with a massive new tourism campaign.
Mayor de Blasio and NYC & Company announced “NYC Reawakens” today (4/21), promising the opening of new hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail offerings, meetings venues and more to lure visitors back to the city.
The $30 million marketing campaign — the largest ever for tourism recovery — hopes to bring back 36.4 million visitors to NYC in 2021, more than 50% of the record number that came in 2019.
HAPPENING NOW: legendary chef @DanielBoulud joins @NYCMayor to talk tourism returning to the greatest city in the world! https://t.co/7JL58x3hGC
— City of New York (@nycgov) April 21, 2021
This involves multiply initiatives, including:
- “Wish You Were Here in NYC” which helps NYers send emails to family & friends inviting them to visit
- NYC Summer Restaurant Week, set for July 19-August 15
- “Meet Local NYC,” which encourages local corporations and businesses to hold their next meeting or retreat in the city
They ensure there is more to come, and also showcase a long list of new experiences in NYC here, from flying into the brand new Laguardia Airport Terminal to Restart Stages at Lincoln Center to the FRIENDS experience.
“As the ship turns toward tourism recovery, we’re pleased to present ‘NYC Reawakens’ as a call to action to encourage visitors and meetings delegates to plan and visit the five boroughs this year and experience the City’s unmatched energy, excitement and dynamism,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon.
“With a packed cultural calendar, world-class hotels, a new outdoor dining scene and so much more, visitors can experience the best of everything right here in New York City. We’re so grateful to be collaborating with Mayor de Blasio to launch this unprecedented marketing campaign later this Spring to draw visitors back to the greatest city in the world.”
featured image source: Unsplash