NYC welcomes 65 million tourists in 2024, second-highest in city history
Image courtesy of Daniel Gillaspia on Flickr
New York City welcomed nearly 65 million visitors this year, the second highest total in its history. Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker on Friday announced a new end-of-year tourism forecast, revealing a 3.5 percent increase in visitors from 2023 and projecting a return to pre-pandemic levels in 2025. NYC remains the most-visited large city in the United States, with the forecast highlighting the city’s near-complete economic and tourism recovery following the pandemic.
In 2024, tourism contributed $79 billion to the city and state economies, including over $51 billion in direct traveler spending. This economic impact spanned a wide range of sectors, including accommodations, dining, entertainment, sports, live theater, arts and cultural attractions, retail, and transportation.
This economic activity also supported over 388,000 leisure and hospitality jobs, representing roughly nine percent of the city’s workforce, and benefitted thousands of small and minority-owned businesses in all five boroughs. Visitor spending also generated over $6.8 billion in tax revenue, saving NYC households roughly $2,000 each in 2024.
NYC continues to be the largest point of entry to the country, with more flights arriving at city airports than any other destination in the United States. The city’s subway system has also rebounded from its post-pandemic slump, reaching one billion trips before the end of the year.
October marked the busiest month for NYC transit since the pandemic, with nearly 114 million subway rides and over 40 million bus rides—10 million more subway rides and 3 million more bus rides than the previous year, respectively.
“With nearly 65 million visitors this year — the second highest figure in our city’s history—NYC has once again solidified its position as the premier destination in the nation and one of the top travel spots in the world,” Adams said. “NYC remains a dynamic hub for tourism, drawing tens of millions of visitors from around the globe and bringing in $79 billion in economic impact.”
Adams continued, “Whether visiting for business or pleasure, the five boroughs has everything you need, from conference halls to theatres to restaurants and hotels — New York City remains the heartbeat of innovation, culture, and opportunity. And we’re looking forward to beating our own tourism record next year with a full recovery.”
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