United States: New York attracts tourists, especially Latin Americans, with free vaccine
Audio 01:18
A woman inquires about registering for the Covid-19 vaccination in the Sunset Park neighborhood of New York on April 7, 2021. AP - Mark Lennihan
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
Some American cities are banking on easy access to the vaccine to attract tourists again.
In New York, many people, mainly from South America, come for a few days of vacation to receive a dose.
Publicity
Read more
In the lobby of Grand Central Station, Diego and Catalina line up in front of the vaccination site set up by New York City.
These two Colombians arrived directly from Bogota, especially for the vaccine.
“
We wanted to get vaccinated quickly.
So it was easier to come and do it in New York,
”explains the young woman at the microphone of
Loubna Anaki
, our correspondent.
“
Yes for young people, it's easier to come to the United States.
In Colombia, we may have to wait until 2022,
”adds his companion.
In Colombia, according to some sources, the pandemic has plunged 42% of the population into poverty.
Like Diego and Catalina, more and more South Americans who can afford it are choosing this option to get vaccinated more quickly and hope to resume a normal life.
"¡Bienvenido a Nueva York! ¡Tu vacuna te está esperando!".
Con este reclamo, la Nueva York lanza su ambiciosa campaña de reapertura de cara al verano https://t.co/q9cPoADEoP
- laSexta Noticias (@sextaNoticias) May 8, 2021
Dani O'Farrill, she came with her friends from Mexico.
“
Getting vaccinated in Mexico right now is very complicated.
I am so relieved because now I can see my grandmother, hug her.
This is so good
!
Already in the spring, the southern states of the United States such as Texas, Nevada, Florida, had opened up vaccination to everyone, without any restrictions, and wealthy Mexicans had taken advantage of it.
►
See also:
Covid-19: vaccination tourism in fashion between Mexico and the United States
No more than 10 million tourists this summer
A vaccine tourism that New York does not hesitate to encourage by even using it as an argument on social networks.
The city recently released a video with the tagline, “
Welcome to New York, your vaccine awaits.
"
As with the locals, the vaccine is free for tourists.
A way for the "big apple" to revive a tourism sector severely affected by the pandemic.
In 2019, New York had attracted more than 66 million visitors.
They should not be more than 10 million this summer, according to city hall estimates.
►
Read also: The United States gives 500 million vaccines to poor countries
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
Vaccines
Tourism
Coronavirus
On the same subject
United States: Americans regain a taste for travel during Memorial Day weekend
United States: in Ohio, the lottery of the anti-Covid vaccine makes its first millionaire
United States: vaccination of the youngest, the difficulty of convincing parents and adolescents