New York Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 11 November 2025

New York, known as “The City That Never Sleeps” and “The Big Apple,” continuously draws millions of visitors annually with its vibrant culture, historic landmarks, and bustling city life.

How many tourists visit New York each year?

New York City attracts approximately 60 million tourists annually, excluding the year influenced by the pandemic.

In 2024, the city welcomed 64.5 million total visitors, with 12.9 million coming from other countries and 51.6 million from within the United States.

• Before the pandemic, international visitor numbers were higher. The city had 13.6 million international visitors in 2018 and 13.5 million in 2019. 

• However, as the global pandemic took hold in 2020, New York witnessed a sharp decline to 2.4 million international visitors.

• International visitor numbers started to rise again in 2021, reaching 2.7 million, jumping to 9.4 million in 2022, and climbing further to 11.6 million in 2023.¹

• International visitor arrivals reached 12.9 million in 2024, up 11.2% from 2023 yet still 4.4% below 2019.

How many tourists visit New York in 2024?

New York City welcomed 64.5 million visitors in 2024, a 3.7% increase from the previous year. 

• Of these, 51.6 million visitors were domestic, while international visitors accounted for 12.9 million.

How much do visitors spend in New York every year?

Visitors generated over $94 billion for New York’s economy in 2024. 

• In 2019, visitors spent $73.6 billion. However, with fewer visitors in 2020, this figure dropped to $33.9 billion.

• An increase was seen in 2021, with visitors contributing over $52 billion to the city’s economy despite relatively lower visitor numbers. 

• The trend of recovery continued in the following years, with the economic impact of visitors growing to $78.7 billion in 2022 but decreasing slightly to $88.1 billion in 2023.²

• Visitors spent $94.0 billion in 2024, up 6.7% from 2023 and 27.7% above the 2019 figure.

How much do tourists spend in New York in 2024?

• Tourists spent a total of 94.0 billion USD in New York City in 2024, marking a 6.7% increase from 2023 and standing 27.7% higher than the 2019 level.

How much does it cost to visit New York?

• Tourists spent an average of about 1,457 USD in New York City in 2024. This amount covers accommodation, dining, entertainment, shopping, transportation, and attractions.

The average spending per visitor was calculated by dividing the total visitor expenditure (94.0 billion USD) by the number of visitors (64.5 million) reported for 2024.

Where do visitors to New York come from?

• In 2024, the United Kingdom remained the primary source of international visitors to New York, with over 1.06 million British travellers, followed closely by Canada (983,000), France (788,000), Italy (706,000), and Brazil (686,000).

Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic in New York Tourism: 2020 & 2021

• In 2020, the number of visitors fell to 22.3 million from 66.6 million in 2019, a drop of approximately 66%. This decrease also marked a decline of approximately 54% in spending, from $73.6 billion in 2019 to $33.9 billion in 2020.

• In 2021, there was a slight increase in figures, with 32.9 million visitors who contributed over $52 billion to the city’s economy. 

When is the best time to visit New York?

• The best time to visit New York for good weather is May to June and September to October. During these months, the weather is stable and warm with little rain.
  
• However, the best time to visit New York for affordability is from early January to early March. This period offers the best combinations of low prices on flights, hotels, and Broadway shows.

How long do people stay in New York?

• A minimum visit of 3 days and 2 nights is required to fully experience New York’s key attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park, according to the consensus among travellers.³

New York Travel Resources

How popular is New York as a tourist destination?

• In Resonance Consultancy’s authoritative “World’s Best Cities” 2025 index, New York City was ranked #2 in the world (trailing only London).

• NYC also topped the “America’s Best Cities” rankings for 2024 and 2025 (Ranked #1 in the U.S. for the 9th year in a row).⁴

• Read more about World Tourism Rankings

Why do people visit New York?

• New York City attracted 62.2 million visitors in 2023. Of these, 50.4 million were leisure visitors, coming for attractions, culture, and entertainment. The remaining 11.8 million were business travellers, attending conferences, meetings, and other work events, showcasing New York’s role as a key business centre.

What to visit in New York?

• Statue of Liberty: Beyond its iconic stature, the Statue of Liberty stands as a profound symbol of freedom that echoes globally.

• Central Park: An urban sanctuary, offering tranquil landscapes and picturesque views for a serene escape.

• Times Square: The epitome of New York’s vibrant atmosphere, with its ceaseless energy, bright lights, and giant billboards. 

• Broadway: The pinnacle of live theatre and musicals, showcasing the best of American stage performances.

• Brooklyn Bridge: This historic structure offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and is cherished by locals and visitors.

New York Travel Statistics Resources

• New York City Statistics
• Statue of Liberty Statistics
  
  

USA Travel Statistics Resources

• Arizona Statistics (incl. Grand Canyon National Park)
• California Statistics (incl. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Universal Studios Hollywood)
• Florida Statistics (incl. Destin, Key West, Miami, Orlando, Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World)
• Hawaii Statistics (incl. Kauai, Maui, Oahu)
• Illinois Statistics (incl. Chicago)
• Louisiana Statistics (incl. New Orleans)
• Massachusetts Statistics (incl. Boston)
• Nevada Statistics (incl. Las Vegas)
• New York Statistics (incl. New York City, Statue of Liberty)
• South Dakota Statistics (incl. Mount Rushmore)
• Tennessee Statistics (incl. Memphis, Nashville)
• Texas Statistics (incl. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)
• Utah Statistics
• Washington Statistics (incl. Seattle)
• Yellowstone National Park Statistics

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References

1. NYC: Travel and Tourism Outlook ↩︎
2. TourismEconomics: Visitor Trends and Expenditure Patterns ↩︎
3. CHlNY: Average stay in New York ↩︎
4. SNYC: Top American Destination ↩︎