Mayor Bloomberg kisses Miss Piggy
Baku, April 18 (AZERTAC). The Muppets become official New York City ambassadors to help the city attract more families as tourists.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg kissed Miss Piggy this morning and invited Kermit the Frog to join him at the Yankees' home opener Friday night.
At a light-hearted press conference, the mayor announced that the Muppets would be the city's year-round family ambassadors, helping to bring more tourists to the Big Apple. For the next 12 months, the Disney characters will be featured on the NYC & Company website, offering family friendly itineraries throughout the five boroughs and tips for shopping and sightseeing here. The city's tourism bureau will also provide exclusive offers and discounts to family-oriented retailers, restaurants and attractions, as well as hotel deals during the summer.
The Family Ambassador program began in 2009 with the characters of Sesame Street and has since featured Dora the Explorer and the Smurfs. Its aim is to position the city as a safe, welcoming destination for families.
Since 2009, family visitation has increased by 14.4% to 15 million last year. Family spending has contributed $14 billion to the city's economy, the mayor said.
The program is designed to help the city reach its goal of attracting 55 million visitors—up from 50.5 million last year—by 2015.
Standing at his official podium next to Gonzo the Great, Pepe the King Prawn, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Mr. Bloomberg was asked by one member of the media whether he's a “Muppet or a man.”
Pausing for a moment, but keeping his sense of humor, the mayor said he's a “fan of the Muppets.”
"We are proud to enlist the help of key family experts, the Muppets, to promote the five boroughs domestically and abroad," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The Muppets believe in dreaming big - just like New Yorkers. Extending the NYC Family Ambassador program beyond the summer and for the entire year will aid us in attracting more family visitors year round and therefore help us reach our goal of attracting 55 million visitors to New York City annually by 2015."
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