There’s no doubt the September 11th terror attacks crippled New York’s tourism industry. I remember watching the news in the dark days and weeks following the collapse of the World Trade Center and hearing hotel operators say they could barely give rooms away in the heart of the city. It was an unbelievable sound bite that still sticks with me these many years later.
I remember my best friend, a flight attendant for American Airlines, telling me how empty the flights to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark were. Add that to restaurants, theaters, museums, and other local attractions that saw patronage plummet. Public relations people who worked with the city’s convention and visitors bureau publicly expressed concern that the Big Apple may be “doomed.”
New York City doomed? Hardly.
Six years after the horrific attacks, the Big Apple’s rebound has left historians shaking their heads. The city has rebounded at an astonishing rate. The lesson: never underestimate the power of patriotism. These days you’re lucky if you can find a hotel room in New York during the busy holiday season. What’s more, while the official numbers aren’t in yet it, experts say New York had a banner summer. Hotels were fuller and pricier than ever and tourists flowed into the city in droves. By the end of the year New York-area airports are expected to have handled more than 100 million inbound passengers—a new record.
Basically, if you are looking for elbow room you probably won’t find it in New York. However, if you want to experience world-class shopping and cuisine, historic monuments, an incredible park system, and get a taste of what it is like to spend time in one of the most famous cities on the planet then New York is where you want to be.
Before you make your travel plans to the Big Apple I would recommend perusing these New York related travel articles.
NEW YORK’S STAR ATTRACTIONS
New York’s Must-See Attractions—The Empire State Building
New York’s Must-See Attractions—The Statue of Liberty
Little People in the Big Apple: Central Park Zoo and FAO Schwartz
Little People in the Big Apple: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Patriotic Travel Destinations—Taking A Cruise of New York
Where To Get Your Chocolate Fix In New York
NEW YORK TRAVEL TIPS
How To Eliminate Waiting in Long Lines For Lady Liberty
New York City’s Subway-Hidden Danger
Another Reason NOT To Drive In New York City
What You Didn’t Know About Central Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
New York City Cabs–Not A Bad Way To Travel