NYC Officials Expecting Huge Leap in International Tourists

All the iconic landmarks are there, Broadway shows returned to The Great White Way last year, Restaurant Week savings are currently in full swing … all that was missing from New York City was the tourists.

Now, apparently, they're coming back.

In droves.

NYC & Company officials told the New York Post they project 8.3 million international visitors this year - not back to 2019 levels but a whopping 207 percent increase over last year's total of 2.7 million tourists who visited from outside the United States.

NYC & Company is the official tourist arm of New York City.

In addition to the more than 8 million global visitors, NYC is expecting 48.2 million Americans to visit in 2022 for a total more than 56 million tourists, which would be a huge boost to lodging, restaurants and attractions in the city.

Officials also told the Post they expect 9 million business travelers this year.

Chris Heywood, executive vice president for NYC & Company, said visitors from the United Kingdom are the key.

"The UK is a critically important market. It is typically our number one source of international travel," Heywood said.