Tourism News Articles
Reopening Borders and Other NYC Tourism News
The big story is the announcement that land borders between Mexico and Canada will reopen to the vaccinated November 8th (international air borders will also reopen November 8th). Canadians historically send more travelers to NYC than any other place save the U.K., and land borders will be easier to cross as no negative Covid test will be required. The Delta variant appears to be waning, with global rates of infection falling. Recovery is not overnight, but the U.S. economy is emerging with consumer sentiment, spending, and employment more resilient than it has been following previous surges. United Airlines's domestic capacity in December will be 91% of what it was in 2019. Their data suggests pent-up demand will be manifesting ahead of the holidays.
Tourism Happenings Magazine
City Guide’s Tourism Happenings, an industry magazine, is hot off the ether. Find a calendar of fall city events and a guide to Broadway reopenings. See photos from the top of One World Observatory at the NYC Tourism Is Back celebration. Get informed on the latest from BIDs and other sponsors of the Tourism Is Back cocktail reception, including news from NYC's leading organizations. Reconnect with everything that's going on in the city now—check it out!
NYC Tourism Latest News
Covid has taught us to be humble about predictions, but the latest numbers are heartening: U.S. cases have fallen 35% in the last month. This follows many expert predictions about the Delta variant and comes with other good numbers: hotel demand and Times Square pedestrian traffic are hitting pandemic-era highs. Manhattan office leasing is at its highest level since 2019. The volume of Manhattan home sales is the highest it's been in 30 years. People are betting big on New York City.
Fall Openings and NYC Tourism News
With the return of international tourism imminent, pieces are falling into place. Airline routes will stabilize and other nations will follow the U.S.'s lead, unfreezing borders around the world. We are confident a significant traveler flow is coming our way. The timing is excellent for the city's holiday push. The return of tourism tracks other indicator's of the city's health, like the luxury sales market—which is breaking records with three months of the year yet to go. There are lots of bright points on the opening/reopening front as well.
International Travel to NYC: U.S. to Reopen Tourism
It's "a major turning point," in the words of U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. The Biden Administration is finally relaxing the rules that have kept international visitors out of the city for a year and a half. The new requirements are not too onerous—vaccines and a negative Covid test, with exceptions for kids too young to be vaccinated yet.
NYC Reopening: Latest Tourism News
The city's schools are full of kids again. Vaccine mandate enforcement has gone into effect. Major Broadway players are back under the lights. Things continue to change quickly and the majority of it is for the better for tourism's return. Read on for more good news on the opening and reopening front.
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Remembering 9/11, TKTS, and Other NYC Tourism News
Although the Delta variant's impact on the economy is drawing most of the headlines, it's worth noting the good news for New York that's out there as well. The city will not be competing with European destinations in light of new international restrictions. On the domestic front, the number one fall destination for Airbnb searchers? That would be New York City. NYC will be ready to greet these visitors—many coming for longer stretches than usual—as reopening news continues to post.
NYC Tourism Comeback
This week we're confronting the E.U.'s decision to drop the U.S. from its list of COVID-safe countries for travel. Strictly taking a tourism point of view, New York becomes an even stronger attraction for those seeking European lures without enduring passport control. The word is getting out about New York's commitment to safety, too—a round-up of top Labor Day destinations includes NYC at #5 thanks to our vaccine requirements (the Washington Post called us out as well for being a safe option).
André De Shields Highlights “NYC Tourism Is Back” Gathering Ahead of Return to Broadway
As New York City's recovery continues and visitors begin their return, the city's tourism industry came together last night, Monday, August 30th, for the "NYC Tourism Is Back, Start Spreading Your News" cocktail reception. Popular tourist destination One World Observatory hosted the gathering along with City Guide, the region's largest in-market tourism magazine, which has been serving New Yorkers and visitors since 1982. More than 300 guests following all health and safety protocols came together while more than 30 local institutions ranging from BIDs to tourism entities to the Brooklyn Nets supported the event as sponsors.
NYC Tourism Latest
This week's game changers for NYC include the swearing in of Governor Kathy Hochul and along with it prospects for increased NYC sway in the capital—and more cooperation between city and state leaders (admittedly the last eight years have set a low bar). The FDA's decision to provide full approval of the Pfizer vaccine, moved up from Labor Day and expected to facilitate more mandates, will hopefully tamp down case loads and increase traveler confidence. The Mermaid Parade and the West Indian Day Parade have been cancelled for this year, but there is still plenty going on.
'Key to NYC' and Other NYC Tourism News
This week's game changer is the beginning of vaccine requirements for indoor life in NYC. The Mayor's new "Key to NYC" program began yesterday, although enforcement is still a month off. For vaccinated tourists it will increase a sense of safety and it won't stop families from coming—under 12s are still welcome, just required to be masked and accompanied by a vaccinated adult. For the unvaccinated, the indoor city will become less accessible, although so much is now outdoors that they should still be able to drink, dine, and otherwise get around.
The Latest in NYC Tourism
The Governor is gone and the auto show is canceled. Again, lots of changes in a short span of time. Neither will have much downward drag on tourism's gradual return, with reports from malls and a major retailer that traffic has been ticking up in the last week. As the Delta variant intensifies in unvaccinated parts of the country, the reopening of international borders will be pushed back, increasing the opportunities for domestic travel. We do need to get through this period of hesitation, but on the other side there will be more and more draws for visitors to NYC.
Proof of Vaccination Required and Other NYC Tourism News
There seem to be no slow news weeks anymore, and this week is no exception, with major policy changes about to impact NYC. The city is creating a new “Key to NYC Pass” health pass to provide the proof of vaccination that's soon to be required for gyms, performances, and indoor dining. That's on top of the Broadway announcement that vax and mask will be required at least through October 31st. With no citywide mask mandate imminent, the net of all this may be a positive for tourists, who may feel more comfortable with the city increasing its commitment to vaccinations and safety.
NYC Openings and Tourist Updates
We knew there would be speed bumps on the road to recovery and we're experiencing a few now. Caution over the Delta variant, rising case loads in non-vaccinated parts of the country, the CDC's new recommendations, and the continuing restrictions on international travel are all hitches on our way. But they're just hitches. The city's attractiveness to visitors remains strong. The full lineup for the August 21st Homecoming Concert has been announced and it's phenomenal. Expect to see tourists flowing into the city for that event, in addition to many more upcoming returns and openings.
Openings and More: NYC Tourism Latest
Subway ridership is up and the MTA notes declining crime, back to pre-pandemic levels. (And there will be no fare hike this year.) More signs of return for NYC. The Times this week reports the city is looking to culture to lead the comeback. As the Broadway and Off-Broadway calendars fill in, and more festivals announce dates, that shift is already well underway.
Hotel Openings and More NYC Tourism News
The Met is back over 10,000 visitors a day. Hotels may not be at capacity yet, but they're getting close. As a commenter put it on the Everything To Do NYC Facebook Group this week, "The city has come alive again and it's amazing!" Once again, the reopenings and returns continue to roll in.
NYC Tourism: Festivals, Updates, Openings
There haven't been many ticker tape parades through downtown in recent years, making today's celebration all the more inspiring. At 11am, the city will celebrate our "Hometown Heroes" with a big thank you to healthcare, transit, and all the other frontline workers who kept the city going through the pandemic. Although we are not clear of COVID yet, the success of the July 4th weekend bodes well for recovery.
Reopening New York: Latest News
New York City now boasts one of the world's lowest COVID positive rates, raising hopes—or maybe even expectations—that the July 4th holiday weekend will reflect a full bounce back. Certainly cultural organizations are betting on New York, with a slew of live events and reopens coming on line.
From Times Square to Coney Island, All Kinds of NYC Comebacks
The city is coming back quickly, to the point where things like hover drones above Times Square seem once again to be just another part of the city's fabric. Nationally, the TSA set another passenger screening record last weekend. AAA forecasts travel volumes around July 4th will approach the record highs set in 2019. As the nation and city bounce back, we see more and more openings and returns.
COVID Restrictions Lifted in NYC: Latest Tourism Update
Day 473 and it ends. COVID restrictions have been lifted in New York. Yesterday the governor's office made the announcement as the state hit the 70% adult vaccination threshold. This means no more social distancing or capacity limits—at least as far as the state is concerned—for sports, malls, gyms, movie theaters, or camps. Health screening is done. So is contact tracing. Despite the many losses of these past 473 days, we expect the city to move to a more celebratory stance, and the latest slate of launches supports that.
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New York to Lift COVID Restrictions: NYC Tourism Update
This week's breaking news is the Governor's announcement that when New York reaches 70% adult vaccination most COVID restrictions will be lifted. In as little as two weeks we could be done with capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning requirements, health screenings, and contact tracing. The city is changing so quickly already but this will accelerate it.
NYC Tourism June 2021
Travel was up, way up, this Memorial Day Weekend. The forecasts didn't keep people off the roads or out of the skies, and if you were up by the Met you saw a snaking line that was the longest its been for ages. Traveler confidence is way up as well, trending back to pre-pandemic levels. The city expansion continues, too.
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Hotel Tax Holiday and Other Tourism News for NYC
Mayor de Blasio announced a three-month tax holiday for NYC hotel stays starting June 1st. All the more reason to expect a resurgent tourism sector in the weeks ahead.
New York Drops Mask Mandate and Other Tourism Updates
For the third week in a row NYC tourism has a game changer. As of today, the vaccinated can go maskless (with exceptions, of course, like hospitals and public transportation). Normalcy is returning, quickly, and City Guide is seeing a rise in interest in NYC travel. The subways are back to 24/7. Take a look for Lion King or Hamilton tickets and you'll find availability is already down to scattered singles.
Broadway Is Coming Back and More NYC Tourism News
It's getting hard to keep up. With the city's COVID infection rate below 2% and falling fast, reopening announcements are piling up, and Broadway is leading the pack. Hamilton. Lion King. Wicked. All back September 14th. Tickets on sale today. Capacity will be 100%. And further premieres and returns are close behind, including Broadway's longest-runner The Phantom of the Opera. Dr. Fauci has announced that, as vaccinations increase, relaxation of indoor mask requirements will follow. Broadway's return will change the city's dynamic for tourism dramatically. The savvy move of offering vaccinations to visitors will further help the travel market.