New
York City welcomed a record 52 million visitors in 2012, a new
all-time high and a 2.1 percent increase over 2011.
Visitors
to the city generated an estimated $55.3 billion in economic impact
to the city’s economy, with direct spending reaching $36.9 billion.
New York City continues to be the premier United States travel
destination, with an overseas market share
at a record high of 33 percent. In 2012, New York City welcomed an
estimated 41 million domestic visitors and 11 million international
visitors. In addition, New York City sold a record 29 million hotel
room nights and generated a record $504 million in hotel tax revenue,
and the overall hospitality industry across all five boroughs now
employs 356,000 New Yorkers. In the tourism industry, average annual
earnings are higher than $52,000 – roughly $7,000 more a year than
average earnings in the entire local economy.
“New
York City continues to attract people from all around the world who
want to experience our unique culture, food, parks, shopping, arts
and energy,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
“NYC
& Company’s diversification in its international markets around
the globe has led to a 18 percent growth in the City’s
overseas market share – from 28 to 33 percent,” said
NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “For 2013, we have already
identified markets with strong future potential and are
ramping up our efforts to ensure New York City is their top of mind
destination.”
“It’s
gratifying that the City continues to attract more visitors each
year, impacting every segment of our $55.3 billion tourism industry,
from hotels, restaurants and retailers to Broadway, performing arts
and culture. On behalf of all of NYC & Company’s 2,000 members,
we look forward to working together to ensure the City maintains its
position as the number one
big city destination in the U.S.,” said Emily Rafferty, President
of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art and
Chairman of NYC & Company’s Board of Directors.
“New
York City’s Museums and cultural institutions are known throughout
the world for our collections, our research and our galleries,”
said Ellen V. Futter, President of the American Museum
of Natural History.
“The Mayor and NYC and Company are making sure that our
international – and national – reputations not only stay intact,
but are extended to new geographic regions and new generations.”
Since
2006, when the Mayor created a new municipal marketing model
by merging NYC & Company with the City’smarketing and big
events groups, New York City’s share of overseas visitors to the
U.S. has increased from 28 to 33 percent. Each market share
point represents an additional $750 million in direct spending by
tourists in New York City. NYC & Company has been able to grow
the City’s market share of international visitation by
targeting non-traditional travel markets with strong
economies and growing middle classes. International markets where
NYC & Company has global outposts have yielded considerable
returns in tourism growth, especially from emerging marketssuch
as Brazil, China, Argentina and Australia, which have grown 447
percent, 442 percent, 258 percent, 157 percent, respectively, since
2006.
With
the continued increase in visitation, New York City’s hotel room
inventory continues to expand – with 91,500 active rooms. Even with
the addition of new rooms, the city’s hotel occupancy remains
strong at 87 percent, the highest in the nation.
