Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, December 18, 2000

Release #466-00

 
Contact: Sunny Mindel / Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
View the Mayor's Press Conference
Download Media Player Graphic
 

Keith Yazmir (212) 484-1244 (NYC & Company)

MAYOR GIULIANI AND NYC & COMPANY ANNOUNCE RECORD NUMBER OF
TOURISTS EXPECTED TO VISIT NEW YORK CITY IN 2001

More Than 40 Million Visitors Expected To Spend More Than $17 Billion


Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, NYC & Company Chairman Tim Zagat and NYC & Company President Cristyne Lategano-Nicholas today announced that the City expects a record number of tourists, almost 40 million, to visit New York City in 2001, when they are expected to spend more than $17 billion.

These numbers, which were compiled by NYC & Company, the City's official tourism and marketing organization, reflect the continued growth in the visitor market which rose 2.6% over projections in 2000, with a record 39.4 million visitors, who are expected to spend $17.1 billion, an increase of 3.1% over 2000 projections.

"The projected tourism numbers for 2001 reflect our successful efforts in making New York City one of the most popular tourists destinations in the world," said Mayor Giuliani. "Just last month a survey conducted by Zagat's rated New York City as 'the best U.S. city to visit' which should come as no surprise. With our historic reductions in crimes and our success in making our City streets and parks the cleanest they've been in years, visitors from around the world are choosing New York City as 'the' place to visit. Last year a record number of tourists visited New York City and we expect to surpass that number this year. This is great news for New York City, and these numbers further reflect our City's status as the Tourism Capital of the World."

NYC & Company Chairman Zagat said, "Tourism is a driving force behind the City's robust economy. The projected $17.1 billion in visitor spending translates into approximately 50% more in total economic impact - more than $3,000 for every man, woman and child in all five boroughs. Combine this with the fact that the visitor industry supports more than 277,000 city jobs and it's clear that tourism means big business for New York and New Yorkers."

NYC & Company President Lategano-Nicholas said, "These new visitor projections are great news for New York and great news for New Yorkers. Our wonderful new hotels, visitor attractions and neighborhood development are all contributing to this continued surge in visitors. And all this spells great news for our City, because tourism supports more than 266,000 city jobs and is projected to pour more than $17 billion into our economy in 2001."

For the first time, the number of international visitors to New York City is expected to surpass seven million, a 4.1% increase over 2000 projections. This increase will come as a result of an anticipated 6.9% surge in visitors from Asia, which would drive the number of Asian visitors to one million. The number of European visitors is expected to increase 4.5% over 2000 projections to 3.5 million, while the number of South American visitors is projected to reverse a three-year slide by increasing 2.8% over 2000 projections to 630,000.

The number of domestic visitors is also projected to increase by 2.2% over 2000 predictions to 32.2 million. The expected 2001 visitor breakdown is 20 million overnight visitors, a 3.3% increase over 2000 projections, and 19.4 million daytrippers, a 1.8% increase over 2000 projections.

The 2001 hotel occupancy rate - the average percent of the City's hotel rooms booked throughout the year - is projected to be 83%, according to PKF Consulting, continuing recent strong hotel industry performance. Hotel occupancies are projected to remain high even though the City expects to add 1,700 new rooms, increasing the City's hotel inventory to 68,900.

2001 OUTLOOK FOR TRAVEL TO NEW YORK CITY
 
2001 VOLUME
% CHANGE
2000 VOLUME
 
(forecast)
2000-2001
(forecast)
TOTAL VISITORS
39.4 million
+3%
38.4 million
VISITOR SPENDING
$17.1 billion
+3%
$16.7 billion
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
7.2 million
+4%
6.9 million
  • Europe
  • 3.5 million
    +5%
    3.4 million
  • Asia
  • 1.0 million
    +7%
    945,000
  • South America
  • 630,000
    +3%
    613,000
    Domestic Visitors
    32.2 million
    +2%
    31.5 million
    Overnight Visitors
    20.0 million
    +3%
    19.4 million
    Daytrippers
    19.4 million
    +2%
    19.0 million

    Note: The NYC domestic visitor volume figures are derived from D.K. Shifflet & Associates Ltd.'s Directions® Performance/Index, an ongoing American consumer travel research study.
    The NYC international visitor volume figures are produced using the results from the US Department of Commerce, Tourism Industries' In-flight Survey of International Air Travelers.

    Definition of a NYC visitor: an individual who travels 50 miles or more one way to reach New York City (excluding commuting) or stays in the City overnight.

     

    www.nyc.gov


    Go to Press Releases | Giuliani Archives | Mayor's Office | NYC.gov Home Page
    Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Statement | Site Map