Record number of NYC tourists but slowed growth

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg says New York City attracted a record number of visitors this year but the growth in the city’s tourism industry has slowed amid a worldwide economic downturn.

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg says New York City attracted a record number of visitors this year but the growth in the city’s tourism industry has slowed amid a worldwide economic downturn.

Bloomberg says an estimated 47 million people visited the city in 2008 — a record high — beating last year by 1 million visitors. And those tourists generated $30 billion in spending, setting another record over last year’s $28.9 billion.

But the increase is smaller than the jumps seen in previous years. Last year, the total visitor number was 46 million, up from 44 million in 2006. And that was a rise from 42.6 million in 2005.

The city says visitors from abroad account for the increase this year — a million more international tourists came to the city in 2008.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...