Next time you find yourself trailing behind tourists leisurely admiring the dazzling lights of our bustling city, try to curb your irritation; you might actually owe them a nod of gratitude.
As members of the board at NYC Tourism + Conventions, we extend our congratulations to our newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani. His campaign was infused with a contagious enthusiasm for tourism, and we are eager to collaborate in harnessing the extensive tourism potential of our city.
Tourism plays a pivotal role in New York City’s economy, though it continues to grapple with setbacks from the pandemic and other external challenges.
Issues such as nationwide air travel disruptions, extended visa processing times, and a global perception of the U.S. as an unwelcoming destination have led to a downward revision of visitor forecasts by 13%, bringing the expected count to 64.7 million tourists by 2025. This includes a 5% drop in international visitors, equating to a $4 billion shortfall in direct spending—funds that could otherwise support essential services for New Yorkers. International tourists contribute approximately half of the $53.4 billion spent annually.
As visitor numbers dwindle due to these external challenges, NYC Tourism’s $36 million budget—of which $21 million comes from the city—competes with larger budgets in cities like Los Angeles ($74 million), Las Vegas ($426 million), and Orlando ($117 million). Even closer rivals like Washington, D.C. ($44 million) and Boston ($45 million) have more resources despite attracting fewer visitors.
Nonetheless, NYC Tourism + Conventions continues to be a resilient force, akin to the “little engine that could,” supporting 387,000 jobs, generating an $81.4 billion economic impact, and contributing $7.1 billion in tax revenue to New York City.
The mayor’s message of affordability for New Yorkers might seem contradictory to focusing on visitors’ enjoyment, but investing in tourism is a great way to fund his affordability agenda without raising taxes.
Many cities allocate a fraction of the hotel tax, casino, or convention revenue to their tourism bureaus. Some have Tourism Improvement Districts; these models are designed to invest in tourism marketing to generate revenue for cities. Additionally, Gov. Hochul is a strong proponent of tourism, and we welcome collaboration between the governor and mayor in the tourism arena.
We are excited and hope to welcome more visitors in 2026. This summer, NYC will host eight World Cup matches. As a true soccer fan, the mayor understands the significance of this moment. Tourism Economics, a leading industry analyst, estimates the World Cup will generate more than $3 billion of economic activity, much of it from international visitors.
We will also celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary this year, including a spectacular parade of tall ships and other events estimated to bring $2.8 billion in additional spending. Some readers may be old enough to remember the 1976 Bicentennial, which occurred during one of the city’s lowest ebbs and lifted everyone’s spirits. This parade will be visible across New York Harbor and dovetails with the new mayor’s goal of spreading tourists around the five boroughs.
And it’s not just the bright lights of Broadway and big events in Manhattan; we want visitors to explore the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn, the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens and Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island. These only-in-NYC experiences will be topped off by enjoying world-class cuisine in restaurants from Harlem to Arthur Ave. to Astoria and Jackson Heights.
Every tourist dollar spent, puts money in the pocket of New Yorkers. Money that can be spent on groceries and rent, just as Mamdani rightly argues.
As we welcome this new era, we look forward to a breakthrough year for NYC tourism — welcoming millions of new visitors and new opportunities to dedicate resources to making sure they return again and again.
Calvelli is the executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society and past chair of the Cultural Institutions Group. Wilson is the owner of the world-famous Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem. They serve as vice chairs of NYC Tourism + Conventions.
