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Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands, has become an important destination for international and domestic tourism. It is known for its unique combination of architectural innovation, cultural institutions, and maritime history. The city's growth in tourism has been a significant factor in its economic development, particularly in the early 21st century1.

Attractions

The cityscape of Rotterdam is marked by diverse architectural styles, reflective of its historical periods and urban development initiatives. Structures of significance include the Erasmus Bridge, a prominent example of contemporary design, and the Cube Houses, a residential development designed by Piet Blom that exemplifies the city's experimental architectural ethos2. Another architectural standout is the Markthal, an indoor market with an arched structure that also serves as a residential building.

Rotterdam also boasts a variety of cultural institutions. The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, for example, holds an expansive collection of artworks from the Middle Ages up to the present day3. Other museums and galleries throughout the city further enhance its cultural offerings.

In terms of maritime attractions, the Maritime Museum provides insight into the city's seafaring history, while the Port of Rotterdam, one of the busiest ports in the world, remains a crucial element of its identity. The SS Rotterdam, a former ocean liner and cruise ship, now operates as a hotel and museum, contributing to the city's maritime heritage.

Tourist Numbers and Impact

Tourism in Rotterdam has been growing steadily in recent years, with visitor numbers showing a positive trend. As of 2022, Rotterdam welcomed more than a million tourists annually, a significant increase from previous decades4. This rise in tourism has had a measurable impact on the city's economy, providing a boost to local businesses and creating jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector5. However, as with many other urban centers experiencing tourism growth, issues related to sustainability and management of tourist numbers are ongoing challenges.

https://rotterdampartners.nl/app/uploads/2023/04/Factsheet-2022-in-cijfers-Rotterdam-Partners.pdf

https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2022/45/recordaantal-toeristen-boekt-overnachting-in-nederland

https://www.eur.nl/en/upt/media/2021-03-2021-structurele-krimp-zakenverkeer-kan-rotterdam-banen-kosten

https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/nederland/622089/rotterdam-populair-bij-toeristen

Industry
https://portofbusiness.nl/rotterdam-blijft-een-interessante-stad-voor-toeristen/

Street fairs and street events such as the Labor Day Carnival in Brooklyn, Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, and New York Marathon also attract tourists.

Tourism companies
New York City law requires all guides to be licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs. A professional trade organization of licensed tour guides in the city is GANYC (Guides Association of New York City), which represents just 10.9% of all licensed tour guides in the city. Potential licensees must pay a fee and take a compulsory 150-question examination about New York City topics, of which they must get at least 97 questions correct. , over 3,000 guides have certification.

In 1992, the "Greeter" initiative was founded by Lynn Brooks with the association "Big Apple Greeter" in New York City. The voluntary and personal hosting of tourists should improve the bad image of the megacity. More "Greeter" projects followed in other United States cities and worldwide. More than 300 volunteers "greet" over 7,000 visitors per year in New York City.

NYC & Company, the city's official convention and visitor bureau, is currently headed by Fred Dixon. It has offices in 14 countries, including Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Korea and China. NYC & Company is the official source of tourism statistics for the city. The research department develops and distributes comprehensive information on NYC domestic and international visitor statistics and monitors the travel industry's impact on New York City's economy. The department also produces 14 official New York City tourism marketing publications that feature information on member hotels, museums, attractions, theaters, stores, restaurants, meeting venues, and service providers.

Special interest tours
New York City has a rich musical culture and history. Accordingly, numerous jazz, gospel music, rock and roll, rhythm and blues and hip hop tours are available. Popular locations for music tours include Harlem and the East Village, which is home to several historical sites related to the birth of punk music. Walking tours are one of the most popular ways of seeing the city and many private guides supply tours. Companies producing audio walking tours include the Gesso app.

Food tours are another option for visitors. New York is one of the top culinary destinations in the world. New York's food culture, influenced by the city's immigrants and large number of dining patrons, is diverse. Jewish and Italian immigrants made the city famous for bagels, cheesecake and New York-style pizza. Some 4,000 mobile food vendors, many of them immigrants, are licensed by the city and have made Middle Eastern foods such as falafel and kebabs standbys of contemporary New York street food. The city is also home to many of the finest haute cuisine restaurants in the United States. Food tours allow visitors to try a wide variety of these foods economically and learn about the city's culture. Tour companies include New York Food Tours, Local Finds Queens Food Tours and Rum and Blackbird Tasting Tours.

Visitors to New York City also partake in sports tourism. Sporting events draw tourists to major venues such as the Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and Madison Square Garden, and to street events such as the New York City Marathon.

Most visited attractions
All of the below attractions are located in Manhattan unless otherwise stated. Only attractions with more than 2 million visitors are listed. The most visited attractions in New York City include:

Notes:


 * Many of these counts also include residents and workers as well. In addition, the actual visitor counts may be greatly inflated since a single person may be counted multiple times if they visited the attraction more than once a year. For this reason, modes of transport such as the Staten Island Ferry and Brooklyn Bridge are excluded, as are neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village, Harlem, and the Financial District.
 * Brooklyn Bridge Park, which saw 4.62 million visitors in summer 2016, is excluded because annual statistics are not available. However, Coney Island and Rockaway Beach are included since they are seasonal destinations.
 * The Battery, the port of departure for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tourist ferries, is excluded.
 * Sports stadiums are also excluded since annual attendance may fluctuate greatly from year to year.
 * Please note that each of these attractions has its own mask policy in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic so make sure to check their policies before visiting.