NYC & Company sets new ambitious targets for New York tourism
Mayor Bill de Blasio, deputy mayor for housing and economic development Alicia Glen, NYC & Company president Fred Dixon, and NYC & Company board of directors chairman Emily Rafferty have announced that New York City is on the ‘Road to 10 Million More Visitors,’ sharing the next tourism forecast of 67 million annual visitors by the end of 2021.
The announcement was made during NYC & Company’s annual meeting of more than 800 tourism and hospitality industry members at Lincoln Centre’s Alice Tully Hall.
NYC & Company previously achieved its goal of 55 million visitors one year ahead of its 2015 schedule by welcoming an all-time record 56.4 million visitors last year.
In 2014, New York City welcomed 56.4 million visitors, beating the projection of 55 million visitors by the end of 2015.
Visitor spending resulted in an estimated $61.3 billion in economic impact and $3.7 billion in City tax revenues, as well as supported 359,000 tourism related jobs.
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Total visitor volume for 2015 is projected to rise three per cent overall to 58.1 million.
Each additional million visitors would result in significant economic gains for the City of New York, solidifying the tourism industry as a major engine for the City - including generating more tourism-related jobs and visitor spending.
Of the predicted 67 million visitors expected by the end of 2021, 16 million are forecasted to come from international markets while 51 million would originate from US/domestic markets.
NYC & Company president Dixon said: “Travel and tourism are a cornerstone of the City’s economy—our hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers, Broadway theatres, performing arts, five-borough cultural organisations and transportation providers continue to draw new and repeat visitors to our City each year.
“Through the continued support of the de Blasio administration, I am confident we will reach our new target of 67 million annual visitors by 2021, further spreading tourism to every corner of our City, drawing visitors during slower periods, and showcasing the attractive new product in all five boroughs.”
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Breaking Travel News recently spoke with NYC & Company president Fred Dixon at ITB Berlin: