Start spreading the news: the Big Apple is back open for tourism, says Mayor de Blasio’s administration.
The city will spend $30 million, part of it funded by federal stimulus money, on a marketing campaign urging travel-starved tourists to come to the city that likes to call itself the greatest in the world.
“New York City is reawakening,” Hizzoner said at a Wednesday press conference. “We need to celebrate it. We need to let people know we’re open for business. It’s safe. Come here, join this amazing moment.”
The promotional campaign will launch in June through NYC & Company, a city government office dedicated to tourism.
De Blasio said Wednesday the push is all about jobs, placing the number of positions tied to tourism at around 400,000.
While the COVID pandemic has dealt a big blow in tourism — shutting down restaurants, nightlife, shows and pro sports — tourists are starting to come back as officials ease public health restrictions and vaccination efforts continue.
Hotels are gradually getting booked again, with occupancies increasing from 47% to 52.2% over the first two weeks of April, according to stats from data firm STR cited by The Wall Street Journal.
“Think about the taxi driver who benefits from tourism, think about the folks who work in our hotels, think about the restaurant workers, think about everyone in the cultural community, Broadway and the museums, all the places that get so many of their customers from tourism,” de Blasio said. “We want them all to thrive again.”
Source (Ny Daily news)