New York – The number of tourists visiting New York City hit a historic high in 2014, attracted by its quality of life, low levels of crime and dynamism, officials said on Monday.
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A record 56.4 million visitors came to New York last year, generating an all-time-high $61.3 billion in overall economic impact, according to the Office of the Mayor and NYC & Co, the city’s tourism and marketing organization.
The tourism industry generated $3.7 billion in local tax revenues, they said. Some 359,000 jobs in the city are tourism-related, they added.
“Our excellent quality of life, low levels of crime, and constant dynamism continue to attract record tourism each year, and 2014 was no exception,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.
In 2013, 54.3 million visitors came to New York City, the previous record, officials said.
Of last year’s visitors, roughly 20 percent, or 12.2 million, came from foreign nations, primarily the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, France, China, Australia and Germany, officials said.
The numbers can even be higher if the tri state area would modernize the three airport terminals. Is there a statistic on how many of the 56 million tourists who used the New York/NJ airports would actually think of returning or what percentage told their friends not to visit NY due to the long waiting lines by check in, security, passport control, taxis etc, let alone the lack of outlets, and bathroom facilities when you need one! And half the automated walkways are being repaired, and try getting an elevator in terminal one with a full luggage cart to connect to the inter terminal train. There is one elevator, which is hardly can fit one trolley! Outrageous and nerve-wracking as its also located near the main exit where scores of people are exiting while a line of people wait for this elevator!