Tourism is a huge industry in New York City, with approximately 44 million domestic and international tourists enjoying a trip to the city every year, to enjoy spectacular architecture and a whole host of historical attractions

Many people visiting New York for the first time will awestruck by the breath taking structures that dominate the New York skyline, with none more impressive than the Empire State Building. Since the building’s opening in 1931, millions have taken in the stunning view of the city from the observation deck on the 86th floor, offering an unparalleled look at the bustling expanse below. During the evening the Empire State Building is illuminated beautifully, making it an ideal spot for those wishing to enjoy a romantic evening.

Few tourist excursions to New York City would be considered complete without a visit to the site of the Statue of Liberty - one of the most recognisable American monuments in the world - which was originally brought to the U.S from France in 1886. Liberty Island receives 15,000 visitors daily, most of which consists of tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the impressive 150 foot structure. Despite the statue itself now being closed to the general public due to fire regulation contraventions, the museum and ten-storey pedestal can still be accessed, with the glass ceiling in the pedestal allowing visitors to view the monument’s iron framework.

Times Square has also become a hotbed of tourist activity in recent years. Named after the New York Times newspaper, which had its main offices on Times Square until 1913, the area was widely regarded as one of the most desirable locations in Manhattan during the 1910s and 20s. The Square’s reputation changed during the Great Depression of the 1930s when many began to consider it a dangerous neighbourhood. However, a commercial building boom that occurred in the 1980s and a concerted effort to clean the area up in the mid 90s have helped Times Square achieve the status of an iconic world landmark, in much the same way as Red Square in Moscow and Trafalgar Square in London have. Tourists now flock to the area to enjoy the theatres of Broadway and the large, animated, digital advertisements signs that surround the Square.

Since 1907 the Square has also been the site of New York’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, an event that sees on average around 750,000 revellers take to the streets in and around Times Square to witness the Waterford crystal ball being lowered on a pole atop the main Times Square building, signifying the start of the New Year. The area is now well known for being a cultural hub full of theatres and music halls, as well as being the home of several upscale hotels in New York.

Known worldwide as “the city that never sleeps”, a great time is guaranteed for any tourist visiting New York City, no matter where your individual interests lie, with a great number of cultural landmarks and historical attractions located throughout the city.