An estimated 52 million visitors were recorded in 2012 by the New York City, which is about 2.1 per cent increase over 2011.
?According to the New York Foreign statement made available to the North America Correspondent of the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 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.
?It said that New York City continued to be the premier United States travel destination, with an overseas market share at a record high of 33 per cent.
?The statement noted that the tourism record was announced on Monday by New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and NYC Camp; Company Chief Executive Officer, George Fertitta.
?“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,’’ the statement said.
?“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.
“The tourism industry is thriving, creating thousands of jobs for New Yorkers at all rungs of the economic ladder.
“We are well on our way to achieving our new goal of 55 million visitors and $70 billion in economic impact by 2015,’’ the statement quoted Mayor Bloomberg as saying.
It noted that since 2006, when the Mayor created a new municipal marketing model by merging NYC Camp; Company with the City’s marketing and big events groups, New York City’s share of overseas visitors to the U.S. had increased from 28 to 33 per cent.
According to the statement, each market share point represents an additional $750 million in direct spending by tourists in New York City.
?It added that NYC Camp; Company had 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. It added that with the continued increase in visitation, New York City’s hotel room inventory continued to expand with 91,500 active rooms.
?“Even with the addition of new rooms, the city’s hotel occupancy remains strong at 87 per cent, the highest in the nation,’’ it said.
?The statement also noted that the American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, was one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational and cultural institutions.
According to it, the Museum encompasses 46 permanent exhibition halls, including the Rose Centre for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium.
It added that it was also home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State’s official memorial to its 33rd Governor and the nation’s 26th President, and a tribute to Roosevelt’s enduring legacy of conservation.
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