For over a year now, the covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives, including severe travel restrictions. While these measures were intended to save lives, they devastated the economy of many countries and cities, which depended on tourism.
In order to relaunch, more and more destinations are announcing the gradual lifting of health measures, like Italy or Greece, in Europe, or the Maldives. Across the Atlantic, it’s New York’s turn to try to bring vacationers back.
It must be said that this city on the east coast is usually the most visited in the country. In 2018, the Big Apple welcomed 65.1 million visitors, including 13.6 million international visitors. Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Time Square, not to mention theaters like Broadway … all these extremely touristy sites were teeming with people. But New York has since turned into a ghost town.
Vaccinate tourists free of charge
Also, in order to attract and reassure tourists, Mayor Bill de Blasio has just proposed a new measure: vaccinate all tourists who wish. These vaccinations would be free, with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires one dose.
Welcome to New York, your vaccine is waiting for you!
We’ll administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at iconic sites across our city. With State authorization, we can get vaccines to tourists and make sure they have a built in souvenir to bring home with them. Let’s get it done! pic.twitter.com/NCqIietY9R
— City of New York (@nycgov) May 6, 2021
The mayor announced that he is currently working with state governor Andrew Cuomo to change the law slightly to make this possible. For now, New York City is only allowed to vaccinate its residents, but the mayor is very optimistic, saying a solution could be found as early as this weekend.
Once the legal part is settled, the mayor intends to install mobile vans on many tourist and emblematic sites of New York, such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the High Line, or even Central Park.
“This is a positive message for tourists. Come here for sure, it is a very good safe and we will take care of you. We will make sure you get vaccinated while you are here with us”, concluded Bill de Blasio in the press.
For the moment, the borders between the United States and Europe are closed, but negotiations are underway. First step, vaccinated American tourists will soon be allowed to come to the old continent.
Read also :
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⋙ Florida prohibits the establishment of a vaccination passport
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