Source page: McKinsey & Company
Commentary
New York City’s new tourism trends
Travel
September 20, 2024 – New York City’s travel and tourism sector is bouncing back from its pandemic-induced slump. But today’s visitors to the Big Apple are drafting their itineraries differently, increasingly opting for outdoor and wellness activities, note senior partner Maurice Obeid and coauthors. Between 2019 and 2023, tourists’ social media mentions of wellness climbed the most (six percentage points), followed by nature and food (five points). In contrast, nightlife and arts and culture had the biggest declines (six and four points, respectively).
To read the article, see “Start spreading the news: New York City travel and tourism are back,” August 5, 2024.
customizer here
Visual form
Alluvial-style stacked share chart.
Layout / body structure
The chart is a two-period comparison with stacked columns for 2019 and 2023 connected by flowing bands. It is read left to right from the earlier mix of social-media mentions to the later mix, with the right-hand labels naming each tourism interest category.
What is being compared
It compares the share of New York City tourist mentions on social media across categories such as arts and culture, food and cuisine, nature, wellness, shopping, active lifestyle, family activities, and nightlife between 2019 and 2023.
Measurement system
The reader tracks percentages printed directly inside the category segments. The stacked columns total 100 percent in each year, and the connecting bands show how each category’s share expands or contracts over time.
Visible structure inside the graphic
The two vertical stacks are linked by tapered bands, which makes category movement visible without requiring a separate axis. The largest segments anchor the bottom of the stack, while smaller lifestyle and leisure categories sit toward the top.
Main takeaway from the visual
The chart shows the mix shifting away from arts and culture and nightlife toward food, nature, and wellness. The flowing bands make the growth of those three categories visible, while several traditional urban-tourism categories narrow on the way to 2023.
Key standout values or extremes
Arts and culture remains the largest category but falls from 43 percent to 39 percent. Food and cuisine rises from 13 percent to 18 percent, nature climbs from 8 percent to 14 percent, wellness increases from 3 percent to 9 percent, and nightlife drops from 10 percent to 4 percent.
Controls / sequence, when applicable
This is a static chart image with no in-chart controls to operate.
Companion media, when applicable
There is no separate companion audio or video; the chart image is the full visual on this page.