As New York City negotiates its budget, one investment should be nonnegotiable: supporting the tourism industry that fuels restaurants, small businesses, jobs and economic activity across Queens and throughout the five boroughs.
Tourism is one of New York City’s most powerful economic engines. Its impact extends far beyond hotels and attractions, supporting local businesses, generating tax revenue, creating jobs and driving spending in neighborhoods across the city.
In 2024, Queens supported more than 56,000 tourism and hospitality jobs: servers, bartenders, cooks, hotel workers, delivery drivers, managers and small business owners. When tourism grows, neighborhood economies grow with it. Restaurants hire more workers, small businesses see more foot traffic and commercial corridors become stronger.
That is exactly the kind of economic activity New York City should be investing in.
As a restaurant owner, I see firsthand how tourism supports neighborhood economies across New York City. The Astoria neighborhood where Rivercrest is located has become a destination for visitors seeking authentic local experiences. So many restaurants like ours across the city benefit from the economic activity that tourism generates. Visitors dine at local restaurants, shop at neighborhood businesses and support the workers and families who help make New York such a compelling destination.
Queens is the World’s Borough – the most vibrant and diverse. From Astoria and Jackson Heights to Flushing and Long Island City, there is an incredible amount to see, do and experience—much of it connected by the iconic #7 line. Each neighborhood has become a destination in its own right, attracting travelers from around the world who want to experience New York beyond Midtown Manhattan.
Restaurants can’t attract global visitors all on their own, especially neighborhood businesses with smaller budgets. Increased investment in tourism at the City level helps create conditions for businesses to grow and thrive. By attracting more visitors to Queens and New York City, we support these local restaurants, sustain jobs and generate economic activity that benefits neighborhoods throughout the borough.
New York City Tourism + Conventions helps drive visitors, conventions and business travel across all five boroughs, generating customers for restaurants, hotels, retailers, cultural institutions and small businesses citywide. In 2025, tourism generated $84.7 billion in total economic impact for New York City, including $55.6 billion in direct visitor spending and $7.5 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Few public investments generate returns like tourism promotion. The economic benefits ripple through communities, support local jobs and produce tax revenues that help fund essential city services.
Yet despite those enormous returns, New York City continues to underinvest in tourism marketing.
NYC Tourism’s City funding has remained essentially flat for nearly two decades and still falls short of the $35 million needed for New York to compete aggressively for visitors, conventions and international travelers. Meanwhile, other global destinations are investing heavily to attract tourism dollars and major events. New York cannot afford complacency.
Mayor Mamdani has spoken about building an economy that works for working New Yorkers. On behalf of small business owners like me, I believe tourism should be central to that vision because it delivers measurable benefits to workers, businesses, neighborhoods and taxpayers alike.
Investing in tourism is not simply about attracting more visitors. It is about strengthening local businesses, supporting jobs, generating tax revenue and ensuring that New York City remains competitive on the global stage.
New York City should invest in tourism like the economic engine it is.
Martin Whelan is the Owner and President of Stout NYC Hospitality Group.