Holiday cheer can be spotted miles away in New York City: bright lights and bustling crowds fill the narrow streets spreading joy. People come together from near and far to tour the iconic Rockefeller Center and window shop on 5th Ave. Recently however, due to the wars and turmoil in and out of the United States, there has been a drastic increase in the number of protests during the 2023 holiday season, diminishing the cheerful holiday spirit that people travel across the world to experience.
As the holiday season approaches this year, there have been fewer people traveling to the city because they believe that rampant protests are derailing the city’s holiday experience, and they’re not wrong. The protests and violence surrounding controversial world events are disrupting the usual holiday buzz that fills the New York City streets. While most are just fighting for what they believe is right, protests in recent years have started to turn into violent riots. When people supposedly voicing their opinions interfere with beloved events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by gluing themselves to the pavement on the route, they ruin an experience that people travel thousands of miles to see; it is clear that something needs to be done to prevent situations like this.
One of the most integral parts of American society is the right to protest for one’s beliefs, and there is no reason this needs to stop. However, New York officials and even activists themselves need to be promoting peaceful protests to allow citizens the ability to share their opinions in a more controlled manner. This is the best way to increase feelings of safety for visiting tourists who are simply hoping to experience New York City in December as they have seen in countless movies and photographs.
New restrictions and laws in New York City have the potential to be very beneficial to New York businesses this season, as tourism is one of NYC’s biggest economic contributors. The only way to continue attracting tourists who will spend money at shops and hotels is for New York to set stricter protesting laws within the city. Their continued failure to comply with New Yorkers’ desperate calls for change is not only affecting the holiday environment but the city’s economic success as well.
To prevent violence, fights, riots and thus decreased tourism in the city, officials and police should take this issue into perspective and demand change. For example, some rules and laws that can help get rid of these issues are increasing police presence near protests and enforcing stricter crowd control. If rules like these are implemented in New York City’s legislature, this would make people feel at ease and safe to go to the city not only during this holiday season but year-round.
