“It’s normal as before Covid. Something less crowded at much higher prices, but as good as ever.” Andrea Cinti, a Florentine Italian, observes New York City in 2022 while standing in the heat of a July day, her presence framed by the city’s bustling energy. A sea of statues and a bustling yard along the Hudson frame the scene. After a crackdown early on, tourism continued to draw crowds, with visitors posing for cameras and sharing moments on social media despite repeated debates about crowds and safety.
Cinti and her husband, frequent visitors since their honeymoon decades ago, return this summer after pandemic pauses. They join a swelling wave of international travelers entering the United States, now able to enter without pre-arrival Covid testing by showing a full vaccination record. Among the eight million foreign tourists New York expects this year, numbers are well above the 2.4 million seen in 2020, though still below the 13.5 million recorded in 2019.
These projections align with broader domestic and international tourism trends. New York City is expected to welcome about 56.6 million visitors this year, a substantial rebound from the 66.6 million in 2019, and a roughly 70 percent rise from the previous year.
“A magical place”
Cinti navigates the city with ease, where safety remains a common baseline even as crime headlines vary and concerns sometimes surface. The couple does not voice worry about upticks in severity or the visible rise in homelessness. Instead, they notice changes that shape daily life, like the proliferation of restaurant terraces that redefine public space without altering the city’s essential character: the appeal of New York endures.
The mayor and city officials are pursuing a clear aim: to restore the metropolis to its status as a jewel among U.S. tourist destinations. Officials project a return to pre-pandemic energy by 2024, and a refreshed push to accelerate recovery. A tourism marketing campaign funded with $30 million last year received another $10 million this year. Tourism is a cornerstone of the local economy, historically generating around $72 billion annually and supporting about 400,000 jobs. (Source: NYC economic briefings and city planning records)
extraordinary revival
“New York is experiencing an extraordinary revival,” remarked a city spokesperson at a major travel trade fair, noting that the metropolis is reclaiming a leadership position in hotel markets and moving back toward peak activity this spring. (Statement from city tourism authority)
Official data points to strong momentum: hotel bookings reach roughly 95 percent of pre-Covid levels, with about 121,000 rooms currently in use. Broadway performances have rebounded to strengths unseen since reopening, and show venues report sales approaching or surpassing previous norms as audiences return. The Broadway League notes that early data already show activity near 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
The resurgence spans many metrics. Ferry terminals bustle with lines for private operators, carrying residents and visitors from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty. From there, ferries connect to sea beaches along Rockaway and other waterfronts, part of a revived public and private transit ecosystem. The city’s parks, piers, and waterfronts—areas like Bryant Park, the elevated High Line, the Little Island, the Hudson waterfront, and the Brooklyn promenade—are increasingly busy, reflecting a renewed urban rhythm. (City transport and park authority summaries)
Museums report full houses again for the summer, with non-local visitors facing higher admission in some cases. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has adjusted admissions to reflect inflationary pressures, underscoring a broader trend in cultural institutions adjusting pricing in response to demand.
“Resilient, sustainable and fair” tourism
City authorities are aligning tourism with inclusive growth, supporting local businesses and a multicultural cityscape. NYCGo, alongside national commerce strategy efforts, emphasizes a path toward more resilient, sustainable, and equitable tourism experiences that celebrate diverse cultural pockets—from Latin and Asian communities to Muslim travelers and beyond. (Official tourism strategy notes and government guidance)
Times Square remains a barometer of the city’s recovery, cited by major outlets as a focal point for Manhattan’s rebound. Midtown, while recovering from a slower return of office workers, shows signs of stabilization as tourism fuels economic activity. Pre-pandemic benchmarks for neighborhood employment and overall economic output illustrate the scale of the city’s reliance on tourism, with the latter representing a sizable share of New York’s overall economy.