DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Tourists will soon be saying “Greetings From Brooklyn” from a revamped, high-tech visitor’s center at Borough Hall.
The new Brooklyn Tourism Visitor's Center will feature iPads where sightseers can browse through attractions and dining options in the borough’s various neighborhoods, as well as a gift shop featuring locally made artisanal products.
The center, which currently houses historical photos and memorabilia from the borough at 209 Joralemon St., will get new graphic wall displays with images of Brooklyn landmarks and promotional banners to draw in street traffic.
“Through the Visitor Center, each neighborhood across Brooklyn — from Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay to Crown Heights and Brownsville — will be promoted to tourists, so they spend their time and money in our businesses,” said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Carlos Scissura.
The Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office and the Department of Citywide Services, which manages city-owned buildings, to make the improvements.
The new center is expected to open mid-March, according to the New York Daily News.
The Chamber of Commerce is funding the iPads and some other repairs, while the rest of the fixes are being covered by the DCAS, the Daily News reports.
A spokeswoman at DCAS did not immediately say how much the repairs would cost.
An estimated 15 million people visited Brooklyn in 2014, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
“Tourists want a memorable experience when they travel, and our new and improved center will set the stage for a day trip, weekend getaway, or longer excursion that excites their senses and expands their horizons,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
