New York City’s tourism industry is continuing its recovery, according to the annual report released by the NYC Tourism + Conventions Bureau on March 25. In 2025, the city’s overall tourism economy had an impact of $84.7 billion, with approximately 65 million visitors, a slight increase of 0.7% compared to 2024. However, in 2026, due to the World Cup, the number of visitors is expected to reach 66.3 million, approaching the record of 66.6 million set in 2019.
The report from NYC Tourism + Conventions Bureau reveals that the tourism industry brings in $55.6 billion in direct consumer spending to New York City, generating around $7.5 billion in taxes and supporting approximately 397,000 job opportunities, continuing to be a crucial driver of the city’s economy.
In terms of visitor demographics, domestic tourism in the United States remained strong in 2025, with 52.4 million domestic visitors throughout the year, representing an increase of 1.7% from the previous year. Major domestic markets include the New York metropolitan area, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Boston, indicating that regional and short-distance travel demand remains robust.
In contrast, the international tourism market experienced a slight decline. In 2025, the number of international visitors was 12.5 million, a decrease of 3.2% from 2024. However, visitors from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Mexico showed annual growth, indicating a gradual recovery in some markets.
Julie Coker, President and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions Bureau, stated that despite facing multiple challenges such as global economics and geopolitics, New York City’s tourism industry has demonstrated strong resilience. She emphasized the significance of international visitors, accounting for half of the total tourism expenditure and being crucial to the city’s economy. She highlighted that even with a slight decrease in international visitors, the overall economic impact indicators showed comprehensive growth.
Looking ahead to 2026, the report predicts that New York City will welcome approximately 66.3 million visitors, a 2% increase from 2025. The upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to bring about 1.2 million visitors to the New York area, creating a $3.3 billion economic benefit, including $1.8 billion in direct spending, and stimulating around 26,000 job opportunities.
It is anticipated that domestic and business travel will further rebound in 2026. Charles Flateman, Chairman of the Board of NYC Tourism + Conventions Bureau, indicated that domestic travel in the United States is poised to surpass the historical highs before the pandemic in 2019, demonstrating a sustained robust regional market. Currently, domestic travel accounts for about 80% of all visitors, with overnight visitors making up 51%, further solidifying New York City’s leading position in hotel occupancy rates across the United States.
With the boost from major international events and steady growth in local travel demand, New York City’s tourism industry is gradually moving towards a full recovery and is expected to continue driving economic development in the coming year.