New York is expecting to welcome more than a million UK visitors this year and tourism chiefs hope to be back to pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
Official forecasts predict 1.07 million UK travellers will visit this year, the first million-plus year for the market since 2019 when the city welcomed 1.27 million UK arrivals.
Figures for 2022 confirmed 863,000 British arrivals, with 87% travelling for leisure, including 11% VFR traffic.
The average length of stay was five days and primary booking channels were airlines (43%) and online travel agencies (29%).
Speaking at the IPW conference in San Antonio, New York City Tourism + Conventions chief executive Fred Dixon said significant marketing investment in the UK had helped drive a strong rebound.
“We are feeling universally positive and given challenges around the value of the pound and other economic pressures we are very happy with the UK market,” Dixon added.
“We will be back above a million in 2023 and all things being equal we should be back around pre-pandemic numbers in 2024.”
The city’s tourism board underwent a rebrand and changed its name from NYC & Company in March, a move Dixon said had been universally well-received.
It is also planning to increase focus on the luxury market in addition to existing product pillars including cuisine and arts and culture.
Dixon revealed plans were currently underway to promote the city’s history in the run-up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026.
It has also relaunched its travel trade academy and is tapping into the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop music with a range of marketing activity.