How Tourism Changes New York
New York is one of the most recognizable cities in the world. Its fame comes from not only its historical significance but also from the countless portrayals of the city in media. With its immense popularity, it is only natural that it is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination. However, New York is a city with a very diverse community, with a multitude of regions having their unique cultures. With the increase of tourism, these communities slowly start to become the victims of gentrification, especially those that are located in locations tourists are likely to visit. This is a complex issue, and I am of two minds about it. On the one hand, it is great that people are interested in the city. The previously unattended areas of the city are now being cleaned up and renovated to spread the tourists more evenly. An increased number of hotels provides jobs and improves the economy. On the other hand, living in New York is becoming prohibitively expensive. This prevents people from staying in their communities and makes the city less culturally diverse. The people on the podcast mentioned how there are over 40000 Airbnb listings in the New York area. One of the hosts raised a very interesting point about how this is not just a way to make money for people, but a way to keep up with the ever-increasing rent. This issue makes me worried about the people living there. If the only way to pay for an apartment is to rent it out, then what is the point in owning it? Perhaps some restrictions should be in place on the way the rent increases for people who live in the areas where tourists are likely to visit. Because this is not just an issue of rent, everything becomes more expensive in gentrified communities.
In a way, the people of New York became victims of the popularity of their city. The image of the city has changed a lot over the years. It has changed from the dangerous and dirty New York of 1970s to the contemporary city of skyscrapers and culture. Perhaps some people have lived there for generations or moved there only a few years back, but each considers themselves to be an authentic New Yorker. Unlike any other city, this image of New Yorkers has stayed with the city over the years. I see this as both a blessing and a curse. It creates a cultural connection between all citizens of New York, despite their beliefs or backgrounds. Unfortunately, it also becomes very vulnerable when tourism dissolves communities that have been a staple of New York for hundreds of years. However, the new types of tourism that were presented in the podcast seem to capitalize on this idea of authenticity. The new types of tours focus on very specific parts of New York, which are not always covered by the more general tours. I see this as a possible step toward the preservation of the culturally diverse New York. It is a small step, but it is important to show that New York is more than just Manhattan.
Conclusion
Gentrification is a very complex issue. The way it affects New York might be the most obvious sign that something should be done about it. Perhaps in the future, a more sensible way to accommodate tourism could be implemented.