Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

New York Succeeds in Getting Some Tourism Back Since 9/11

Aired December 29, 2001 - 18:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: As you might imagine, tourism in New York City and indeed across the country has suffered greatly since September 11th. CNN's Peter Viles takes a look at how the city is faring now with the biggest party of the year just days away.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Birmingham, Alabama.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm from Richmond, Virginia.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russia.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Louisville, Kentucky.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) Canada.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All in New York for one of the world's greatest parties, New Year's Eve in Times Square. But this year is so different in so many ways. Tourists were greeted by this headline Thursday - Happy Nuke Year, news the police will be on special alert for nuclear bombs.

This couple from Dallas didn't flinch. They booked their vacation this week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh we decided (INAUDIBLE) come right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With everything that's been going on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything that's going on, we decided it would be a special year to come.

VILES: The city has worked hard to attract tourists with some success. The Marriott Marquis is booked solid for New Year's Eve, all 1900 rooms, but rates are down 20 percent from last year.

DAREN KING (ph), MARRIOTT MARQUIS: I think people really want to show their support for New York and I think as they show support for New York, they feel they're showing support for America.

VILES: It's hard to see it on the streets, but tourism in New York is down sharply. The city estimates it'll be off 14 percent this year with visitors spending down 12 percent or $2 billion. Broadway is suffering eight of the 28 shows now running, expected to close next month.

JED BERNSTEIN, NYC & COMPANY: The overseas tourists are off by almost 75 percent. That's a trend that's continued all season long.

VILES: The truth is that September 11th changed tourism in New York in ways that we're only now beginning to understand. By far the most popular place in New York for tourists right now are the streets around ground zero. At this church, huge crowds jostling for a glimpse of history.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) to take pictures and you know, it's not a sight to see. It's just mourn (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a historic place now and I would feel the same say in like visiting (INAUDIBLE) Poland or visiting Pearl Harbor.

VILES: It is a terrible site, but Americans are drawn to it and a weary city welcomes them. Peter Viles, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com