In a year of a historically terrible storm, an Empire State Building shooting, questionable practices by the police department, handsy and racist Times Square mascots, an epically polluted waterway, several exotic animals running wild, hazardously mislabeled raw fish, a disgusting monster that washed up on the shores of the East River, record arrest numbers, a ban on sugary drinks, a looming subway fare hike, rigged red light cameras, cannibal cops, and Donald Trump in full, crazy, racist force, tourists still found reason to love New York.

Mayor Bloomberg and NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta announced recently that the city had yet-another record-busting year for tourism, brining in 52 million visitors and generating $55.3 billion in economic impact. Given the very real economic boon yielded by these short-term visitors–the average industry worker made $52,000 last year, for example–I say keep ‘em coming.

(Photo: Ed Yourdon/Flickr)