NYCBy Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — It looks like New York City just showed Mickey Mouse who's boss.
The city that never sleeps overtook Orlando, the house of mouse, as the most popular city destination in the United States for 2009.
A total of 45 million visitors boosted the local economy in 2009, bringing in close to $28 billion to the city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Monday.
"Last year, while tourism declined significantly in cities across the country, we fared better than most," Bloomberg said in a statement.
Travel to the city dropped by just 3.9 percent from 2008, a smaller percentage than expected.
New York City also knocked out Los Angeles as the most popular city favored by international visitors. The Big Apple attracted 8.6 million visitors from abroad, more than double the amount that visited Los Angeles.
While New Yorkers may complain about the tourists, visitors from abroad spent five times as much money in the city as their American counterparts.
Apart from the cash boon to the city in the middle of the recession, the visitor influx has brought employment numbers in the hospitality industry to pre-recession levels, Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber credited an aggressive tourism marketing campaign for the visitor numbers.
Plans to stretch the welcome mat into 2010 include weekend promotions, hotel specials and a new round of restaurant week highlighting the city's cuisine.
I say that every day living in New York City. OMG, I am SO GLAD Christmas is over.
ReplyDeletei so wanna go! i was in new york city last week on dec. 28th for my birthday bc its the day after.
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ReplyDeleteI find it real funny how new york niggas are they say they wanna put on for the city but who u puttin on?
ReplyDeleteNew York is 5 hours behind, but Los Angeles is 8 hours behind, so it depends on the exact city in America
ReplyDeleteSame episode had Starks & Oakley. Ah, New York City when it was fun...
ReplyDeletePrepping my resume (and my head) for the new year in New York City. Let the interviews commence! in
ReplyDeletethe sexually ambiguous politics of New York City continue to baffle me into the new year... one must laugh...
ReplyDeleteNew York City tops country as tourist destination for 1st time in 20 years, Mayor Bloomberg says
ReplyDeleteFinished my Xmas book, "Lush Life" by Richard Price. Awesome New York City novel. Movie - Price script - should be good, too.
ReplyDeleteSo, who's gonnakeepmewarm!? New York City's weather is destroying me!
ReplyDeleteI hate to brag but I had lunch with a celebrity in cold New York City *snort*
ReplyDeleteNew York, New York we are almost there. Can't wait to see the city that never sleeps!
ReplyDeleteNew York City really is a different world altogether. The idea of getting "carded" 'coz you look "suspicious". Whitey please.
ReplyDeleteOn My Way To The City That Never Sleeps! Where My New York Twiggas ?
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