NEW YORK - Two years of pandemic are now a distant memory for New York.
The city is close to full tourism recovery and has recovered 85% of visitors compared to pre-Covid levels.
This was revealed by data from NYC & Company, the agency that deals with tourism promotion in the Big Apple.
The total number of tourists in 2022 reached 56 million and 400 thousand of which 47 million and 400 thousand were national and eight million and 9 thousand international.
It is estimated that international tourism will more than triple from the previous year.
This was revealed to ANSA by Fred Nixon, managing director of NYC & Company.
"2019 was a record year in terms of visits to New York - he explained - the city in fact welcomed 66 million and 600 thousand tourists of which 53 million and 100 thousand nationals and 13 million and 500 thousand international. arrivals from Italy, in 2022 the number reached 352,000, with a 60% recovery compared to the pre-pandemic period when arrivals reached 611,000".
According to estimates, by 2024 it will return or even exceed the record attendances of 2019. In a meeting with the press preceded by a video message from Mayor Eric Adams, Dixon also spoke of the offer during the holiday season which involves all five boroughs, from Manhattan to Brooklyn to Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
First date is November 18, with the 'Christmas Spectacular' with the Radio City Rockettes.
On November 22, the tradition of the Neapolitan nativity scene returns to the Metropolitan Museum and forms the backdrop for a gigantic Christmas tree.
On November 24 there will be the famous Thanksgiving parade organized by Macy's while the key event will be the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.
The event marks the official start of the Christmas festivities.
New York is therefore ready to make all its visitors experience a magical Christmas.
Dixon also talked about New York's winter offer with the return, next January, starting from February 17th and until February 2nd, of the fourth edition of 'NYC Winter Outing' which also includes NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week and NYC Must See Week.
It is a series of initiatives throughout the city including Broadway shows, attractions, museums, tours and performing arts, as well as the possibility of booking the most popular hotels at discounted prices.