Hochul pledges $450 million to boost tourism industry

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul, on the first full day that fully vaccinated foreign tourists were permitted to travel to the U.S., pledged to help the state’s tourism industry to recover by providing nearly half a billion dollars in grants. Hochul, in an event Monday at New York City’s Museum of Natural History attended by business and union leaders, said the economic future of the City and the State are tied to the tourism industry. “The only way we are going to say that New York is truly back, is when the tourism industry is back as well,” Hochul said. “I believe they are interconnected.” Broadway shows have reopened and sporting events are back, for fully vaccinated patrons. But Hochul said that the tourism industry, and its hundreds of thousands of related jobs, is still far behind its pre- pandemic levels. A report by the State Comptroller finds the tourism industry lost $60 billion dollars due to COVID-19. The Natural History Museum’s attendance and revenues declined by 40% since