Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
[UPDATE] Japan Catastrophe Could Cost NYC Tourism Industry <strike>$1 Billion</strike>
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 17, 2011
Modified Mar 17, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 17, 2011
Modified Mar 17, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[Update below]
On top of everything else, Japan's tourist industry has taken a nose dive since the triple-punch earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear threat rocked the island nation last week. The Japan National Tourism Organization doesn't yet have any statistics about booking cancelations, but the AP reports that Americans are canceling or postponing upcoming trips to Japan. And the flip side of this is that Japanese travelers are canceling their vacations to the U.S.
The Japanese are the fourth largest group of tourists that come to the U.S., and though their numbers have declined somewhat in recent years, Market Watch reports that over 2.9 million Japanese came last year, spending about $13 billion. And the website estimates that over 200,000 Japanese tourists visited NYC last year. But local hotels and tour operators tell the Post about half of their seasonal bookings from Japan have been cancelled already.
The Kitano on Park Avenue reports 250 bookings cancelled since the earthquake, and sushi restaurants are worried what the nuclear plant problems will mean for their fish supply. The tabloid estimates that the city's tourism industry could take a $1 billion loss. We've checked with the NYC public affairs department to see what they think of that number, but what's happening in Japan is obviously bad for the entire world. Of course, what's happening in Japan is immeasurably worse for the Japanese than any economic loss we may feel in NYC, and with that nuclear plant teetering on the brink of catastrophe, our problems seem a tad trivial.
UPDATE: As we suspected, the Post's $1 billion number seems to be more than a little sensational. George Fertitta, the CEO of NYC & Company, the city's official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, tells us, "Last year, NYC welcomed 225,000 Japanese visitors who spent an estimated $565 million in the city—but that's less than one half of one percent of all visitors. We expect the current and very sad disaster in Japan to have an impact on visitors to New York City, but a fraction of what some have speculated."
Tagged
earthquake
japan
Japan Earthquake
japan nuclear plant
japan tsumani
nuclear plant
tourism
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 8:28 a.m. ET
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.
By
Samantha Max
The Bronx is getting a new casino and a reimagined Ferry Point Park, too
By
Willow Higgins
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .