New York Metropolis tourism suffered huge decline throughout pandemic, report exhibits | New York

(The Center Square) – Thanks to COVID-19, New York City ended a decade of growth as visitor numbers fell by two-thirds and their contribution to the economy declined even further.

According to a Wednesday report by New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, only 22.3 million people visited the Big Apple in 2020, up from 66.6 million the previous year. Those visitors spent just $ 13 billion, a 73% decrease from $ 47.4 billion in 2019.

As a result, the pandemic cost New York City $ 1.2 billion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2021.

In a statement, DiNapoli said visitor traffic was a key indicator of economic health.

“The damage the pandemic has done to this industry has been staggering and it may take years for tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels,” he said. “The city and state must help reopen it safely while providing aid to workers, as well as to hotels, venues, restaurants and other businesses that are unlikely to recover by the time visitors return.”

Before the crater formation last year, the last drop in visitor numbers to the city was in 2009. According to data from NYC & Company, the city’s tourism bureau, the 2020 total was on par with the total number of visitors nearly 30 years ago.

NYC & Company’s forecast does not anticipate a full recovery in visitor numbers by 2024. Still, Donna Keren, the agency’s senior vice president of research and analysis, said in a statement that there are signs of an industry recovery.

“Comptroller DiNapoli’s report shows the importance of tourism to all five boroughs of New York City and is a sobering reminder of how difficult this pandemic has been for our city’s tourism industry,” said Keren. “It’s also a reminder of the opportunity to remind people of the incredible experiences that are waiting for them.”

In his report, DiNapoli made various recommendations to get visitors back to the city as soon as possible. This includes marketing to other Americans as they are most likely to return first, but also creating targeted campaigns for overseas and business travelers who tend to spend more money than US tourists.

Hotel Trades Council president Rich Moroco said in a statement that the controller’s report shows “the current economic reality” for the city’s tourism industry.

“Tourism is a vital engine of the city’s economy and a major source of myriad middle-class jobs for New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of HTC members,” he said. “Our union appreciates Comptroller DiNapoli’s careful analysis of the tourism sector and his recommendations to prioritize recovery and get New Yorkers back to work.”