New York Becomes Fertile Hub for Tours Entrepreneurship

As the peer-to-peer sector of the travel industry continues to grow, the tours and activities arm has struggled to take off in same manner as lodging and ground transportation. What is thriving is a smaller set of entrepreneurs who are building unique and creative tour businesses aimed at travelers and locals who want to experience a traditional destination or attraction in an untraditional way. Building a small business — whether it’s creative tours around the Metropolitan Museum of Art or gallery hopping around Chelsea — include insurance, licensing exams, and smart marketing channels. New York City has become a fertile growth ground for these startups given the many locals, in addition to tourists, looking for unique activities or experiences within their own city. As Skift noted earlier this month, locals account for 40 percent to 70 percent of many walking tours' business and are more likely to become repeat customers as well as send friends and families.