Authorities say the victim and his family were approached on Monday by a woman who said she was selling tickets to the attraction. When the tourist said he wasn't interested, a man came up and punched him in the face.
Authorities say the victim was knocked unconscious and suffered a fractured skull. The tourist was from Arkansas, and authorities believe the tickets were fakes.
The two suspects fled. The attack happened in front of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said police would be "very aggressively" investigating.
