Despite Economic Gloom, NYC Still a Magnet
By Anastasia Economides and Karina Ioffee
The economy may be in a freefall, but tourists from all over the world are continuing to flock to New York City. They come for the iconic sites such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and of course, the world-famous shopping in Times Square.
Although the value of the euro against the dollar has fallen since July, European tourists especially are still finding good deals in the Big Apple.
In Times Square, German tourist Nicolas Wallens said he booked his ticket earlier this year, and despite the financial turmoil, never considered canceling.
Nicolas Wallens, Tourist
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Seventeen-year-old Charlotte, who is visiting from England, said she had been planning to splurge on some clothes while in New York. Now, she says, she has to be a bit more careful with her money.
Charlotte, Tourist
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Tour guides are also singing the blues. At the Empire State Building, Selemi Adediq, 30, an agent for CitySights NY, a tour bus company, said that he had sold only three tickets by 4pm on a recent Friday. And because Adediq’s income is based on commission, less tickets means less money in his pocket.
Selemi Adediq
Selemi Adediq, Tour Guide
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For more information on how tourism has declined over time, check out the December report from the New York City Economic Development Corporation.