Record 47 Million Tourists Flocked to NYC in 2008

The city announced that an estimated 47 million people visited NYC this year. The number is a new record high (last year, there were 46 million visitors) and the city also estimates that the tourists spent $30 billion (another record--last year tourists brought in $28.9 billion). However, with the recession, the increase of tourists was only 2%, small compared to the 5% uptick between 2006 and 2007. Mayor Bloomberg was optimistic, "While we can't promise that we will hit another record next year, I do think we'll continue to see a lot of tourists on our streets." He spoke at Rockefeller Center, where CityRoom reports some students from Medford (Mass.) High School cheered him on: "Mr. Bloomberg thanked all of them for coming and said, 'We love you; go spend some money,' before he went on his way."

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By Jen Chung in News on December 29, 2008 6:35 PM

Comments [rss]

r1b2

Spend your money, and swing your Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon-sized butts on our crowded sidewalks.

ides_of_march

"We love you; go spend some money"

Hey Mike, bring the city taxes down and the locals might spend a bit more money too. It might even keep the productive citizenry from packing up and leaving. (let the welfare cases keep the city afloat.)

I also think the MTA is cooking the books to raise fares. It's been years since I've seen a train that wasn't packed during the day and only slightly less packed late at night. Ridership is way up.

valeriob

#3 good point.

They sure didn't ALL walk around, now did they?

Where was MTA expecting to get their numbers from?

One more fare hike and I'm cabbin' it everywhere.

Gothamist_Cynic

and the MTA still ran out of money? Something isn't right.

jaycjay

Thanks to the voodoo that goes into that kind of "estimate," if the city wants tourism to go up again next year... it will.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

I hate the tourists that fund abuse and the carriage drivers overcharged them anyhow. If the drivers lie about the price then they also must lie about other things. end the cruelty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSun_1Ly6ro&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbZR4FZZQRM&feature=channel