NEW YORK: The holiday season promises peak travel cheer in New York, with more visitors on the streets and in stores, but the emergence of the heavily mutated Omicron coronavirus variant threatens to throw a wrench into the tourism industry's recovery.
"Just when you think you got the answer, it seems like this virus is constantly changing the question," said Mark Williams, a New York operator at Big Bus Tours, one of the world's largest open-top sightseeing tour bus companies.
Travel website Kayak said searches related to international travel to New York have spiked 50% since the COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors were lifted on Nov. 8.
"There is definitely a lot of pent-up demand for people wanting to get to New York City," said Kayak CEO Steve Hafner.
Hafner admitted the Omicron variant was a wild card, but he was confident in the allure of New York, and that travellers were starting to learn how to live with COVID-19.
"People are very resilient, and that's what we've seen in the numbers. So as soon as the government lets them do stuff, they're going to go out there and get it done, and there's no better place to do it than New York City," he said.
Travellers on the Big Bus Tour appeared to agree.
"They say it's not as bad as they thought it was," said Kevin Norman, visiting from Britain, referring to Omicron. "More worrying is that we have to take more tests to go back to the UK."
"I'm fully vaccinated. So what will be, will be," said another British tourist, Ann Heinz.
Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance which works to improve and promote the famous intersection, has seen pedestrian numbers rise significantly since Nov. 8, to more than 250,000 people a day from 30,000 at the beginning of the pandemic.
Harris expects a return to pre-pandemic numbers of 365,000 people sooner than expected, but decries any notion of normalcy.
"Normal is boring," Harris said. "Times Square is anything but boring. We're not going to fall back. We're going to fall forward. We're going to learn from the pandemic and we're going to create a new and exciting Times Square post-pandemic."
Reuters
Thu Dec 02 2021
!['What will be, will be': New York City tourists unfazed by Omicron 'What will be, will be': New York City tourists unfazed by Omicron](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/71638407477_JFK.jpg)
Air travellers wearing protective face masks, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, walk at JetBlue Terminal 5 at JFK International airport in New York, U.S. - REUTERS
![PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61714481430_TBNAIM.jpg)
PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus
PPZ-MAIWP mencatat kutipan zakat sebanyak RM511 juta dari Januari hingga Jun tahun ini dengan peningkatan sebanyak 10 peratus berbanding tempoh sama pada 2023.
![Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721130378_JohariAbdulGhani.jpg)
Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala
KPK akan mengadakan Misi Ekonomi Produk Agrikomoditi Malaysia ke India pada 17-18 Julai ini.
![Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715247870_SohThianLaijpg.jpg)
Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM
Pemimpin perniagaan dan usahawan daripada golongan belia merupakan pemacu penting yang akan membentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia, kata Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: 16 July 2024
#AWANITonight with @Hafiz_Marzukhi
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
![9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober 9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718630490_Smokerises.jpg)
9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober
9,318 pelajar terbunuh dan 14,671 lagi cedera di Semenanjung Gaza manakala di Tebing Barat, 103 pelajar terbunuh dan 505 lagi cedera.
![Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721142800_AirbusA.jpg)
Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun
Rangkaian penumpang Kumpulan SIA meliputi 125 destinasi setakat Jun dan rangkaian kargo terdiri daripada 129 destinasi.
![Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716613114_TBsprm.jpg)
Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman
Kesemua individu juga perlu hadir ke pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebulan sekali untuk melaporkan diri.
![KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719822088_ZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat
KPT mengalu-alukan cadangan PAC berhubung pelaksanaan dan pemakaian Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024, kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan kementerian itu.
![SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720679430_AbdulKarimRahman.jpg)
SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan
Sepak takraw wanita berpasukan berkemungkinan akan digugurkan daripada senarai acara temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) 2024 berikutan jumlah penyertaan kurang daripada jumlah minimum yang ditetapkan.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Musim panas landa AS, orang ramai cari lokasi sejuk Musim panas landa AS, orang ramai cari lokasi sejuk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718846632_heatwave.jpg)
Musim panas landa AS, orang ramai cari lokasi sejuk
Aiskrim, tempat berteduh, dan kolam renang menjadi lokasi tumpuan apabila musim panas bermula dengan gelombang haba rekor di beberapa negeri di Amerika Syarikat.
![Pesawat peribadi ghaib selama 53 tahun ditemui di dasar tasik Pesawat peribadi ghaib selama 53 tahun ditemui di dasar tasik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718442112_tbpesawatjetperiba.jpg)
Pesawat peribadi ghaib selama 53 tahun ditemui di dasar tasik
Serpihan sebuah pesawat jet peribadi yang hilang selama lebih 53 tahun selepas membawa lima lelaki berjaya ditemui di dasar Tasik Champlain.
![Justin Bieber, isteri umum berita kehamilan Justin Bieber, isteri umum berita kehamilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81715304456_haileyjpg.jpg)
Justin Bieber, isteri umum berita kehamilan
Penyanyi Justin Bieber dan isterinya Hailey Bieber memuat naik berita kehamilan anak pertama mereka di akaun sosial media masing-masing.
![Pembaharuan fiskal kerajaan bantu perkukuhkan lagi keyakinan pelabur - MoF Pembaharuan fiskal kerajaan bantu perkukuhkan lagi keyakinan pelabur - MoF](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81713348111_tbAmirHamzah.jpg)
Pembaharuan fiskal kerajaan bantu perkukuhkan lagi keyakinan pelabur - MoF
Pembaharuan fiskal yang dilaksanakan kerajaan telah membantu memperkukuh lagi keyakinan pelabur terhadap Malaysia, kata Kementerian Kewangan.
![Amir Hamzah ketuai delegasi ke mesyuarat bersama pelabur di New York Amir Hamzah ketuai delegasi ke mesyuarat bersama pelabur di New York](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41706259218_TBAMIRHAMZAHAZIZ.jpg)
Amir Hamzah ketuai delegasi ke mesyuarat bersama pelabur di New York
Menteri Kewangan II Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan mengetuai delegasi Malaysia ke mesyuarat bersama pelabur di New York, Amerika Syarikat dari 14 April hingga 16 April, 2024.
![Gempa bumi di New York, New Jersey: Kementerian Luar giat selaras usaha Gempa bumi di New York, New Jersey: Kementerian Luar giat selaras usaha](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41712365260_earthquake.jpg)
Gempa bumi di New York, New Jersey: Kementerian Luar giat selaras usaha
Gegaran dirasai di seluruh kawasan Tri-State (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) dan sejauh utara Massachusetts.
![Wanita tergamak ketuk kepala ibu dengan periuk sampai mati Wanita tergamak ketuk kepala ibu dengan periuk sampai mati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71711598590_mengetukibu.jpg)
Wanita tergamak ketuk kepala ibu dengan periuk sampai mati
Seorang wanita tergamak mengetuk ibunya dengan periuk masak hingga mati dan kemudian menelefon pihak kecemasan dengan mengakui melakukan pembunuhan kejam itu.
![Umat Islam di New York teruja sambut kedatangan Ramadan Umat Islam di New York teruja sambut kedatangan Ramadan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51710156439_tbTaraweehprayer.jpg)
Umat Islam di New York teruja sambut kedatangan Ramadan
Ribuan umat Islam di New York menyambut permulaan Ramadan pada Ahad, dengan berkumpul di Times Square yang simbolik.
![Pemilu 2024: Biarpun jauh di New York, Cinta Laura Kiehl tidak lepas tanggungjawab mengundi Pemilu 2024: Biarpun jauh di New York, Cinta Laura Kiehl tidak lepas tanggungjawab mengundi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707708684_newyork.jpg)
Pemilu 2024: Biarpun jauh di New York, Cinta Laura Kiehl tidak lepas tanggungjawab mengundi
Biarpun Jauh Di New York, Cinta Laura Kiehl Tak Lepas Tanggungjawab Mengundi Sempena PEMILU 2024
![Final Piala Dunia 2026 di New York Final Piala Dunia 2026 di New York](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707098988_TBPialaDunia.jpg)
Final Piala Dunia 2026 di New York
New York mengenepikan bidaan daripada Dallas untuk memastikan perlawanan final diadakan di bandar raya itu.