New York wants to offer tourists free vaccines

According to the mayor of New York, the vaccination centers should be located in the biggest tourist attractions, such as Central Park, Times Square or the Empire State Building, and offer visitors free vaccines from Johnson & Johnson, which is administered in only one dose, reports the Wall Street Journal. According to de Blasio, this should force more tourists to visit New York this summer, thus reviving tourism, which is a relatively important source of income for the city. "We want to let tourists know that New York City is a place where they can come, feel safe and also that they are taken care of here," the mayor said on Thursday. However, the proposal will first have to be approved by the state of New York, which would have to make adjustments to the vaccination rules, as it is currently not possible for people who do not work or live in the state of New York to receive vaccinations. According to the mayor, the city should be fully opened to tourists on the first of July. However, according to Governor Andrew Cuom, gyms, restaurants, amusement parks and shops could open at full capacity on 19 May. Two days before, the operation of the metro in non-stop operation should return and the mandatory opening hours for bars or restaurants will end. Tourism is very important for New York City. In addition to generating profits for the city, the sector employs hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. In 2019, for example, a record 66.6 million tourists visited New York, and this year it is expected that only about 36.4 million will arrive. According to the official tourist organization NYC & Company, the city will not return to pre-pandemic numbers until 2024. However, the city is currently working to get tourists back to New York. In recent weeks, it has launched a massive $ 30 million campaign targeting tourists. Prior to the pandemic, the city spent only about $ 3 million a year on similar campaigns.