World Travel & Tourism News

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Foreign tourism in US sets record in 2005 - Commerce

WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - Foreigners spent a record $104.8 billion on travel-related goods and services in the United States in 2005, following several years of reduced tourism in the wake of the September 2001 attacks, the U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

"Today's data show that America remains one of the top destinations for international visitors," Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in a statement. "Collectively, these visitors are spending record levels during their stay, which helps employ more than 8 million Americans."

Foreign tourism spending surpassed the previous record year of $103.1 billion in 2000 and was 12 percent higher than in 2004. The number of foreigners visiting the United States increased 7 percent last year to 49.4 million, Commerce said.

Foreign spending on travel-related U.S. goods and services tumbled in the months and years after the September 2001 attacks, hitting a low of $80 billion in 2003.

U.S. travelers spent $95.1 billion last year on foreign travel-related goods and services, up 6 percent from 2004.

The United States ran a $9.7 billion trade surplus in the travel category last year, Commerce said.