As tourism brightens, Times Square hopes to regain luster

Even as visitors again crowd below the jumbo screens in New York’s Times Square, the souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels and entrepreneurs within the iconic U.S. landmark are still reeling from a staggering pandemic. With vaccinated foreign tourists now welcomed back into the United States, New York City is hoping a stream of moneyed travelers will hasten the area’s economic comeback. A media blitz is underway to remind the vaccinated world that the city is open for business. New York City had been posting record numbers of tourists — 66.6 million in 2019. How quickly the area recovers could be a barometer for the rest of the U.S. tourism industry.

All contents © copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved