Taking the baton from Waldo of the "Where's Waldo?" book series, the curious little monkey has been named as the latest face of the Big Apple's campaign to attract family travelers.
This makes Curious George the sixth official NYC Family Ambassador. Since 2009, New York City has relied on a series of beloved children's book characters to attract families and promote its kid-friendly attractions and activities.
From this week, New Yorkers and potential visitors will find George on the NYC Go website promoting tips and ideas on how to enjoy everything the city has to offer for families. The site includes lists of the city's zoos, aquariums, parks and kid-friendly museums as well as overall practical information.
Last year, the city hosted 16.7 million family visitors, a 3.1 percent increase compared to 2012. NYC & Company, the city's official tourism promotion arm, notes in a release that since the launch of its program five years ago, "family visitation to New York City has grown by 26.5 percent and currently comprises 30.8 percent of total visitation to New York City."
