US reports record-breaking 60 million international visitors in 2010

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke stated (16-Mar-2011) a record-breaking 60 million international visitors arrived in the US in 2010, breaking the previous record set in 2000 by 17%. These international travellers spent more than USD134 billion during their visit, a 12% increase from 2009. Travel and tourism is a USD1.3 trillion sector of the US economy, supporting 7.8 million American jobs. In 2010, the US had a surplus of nearly USD32 billion in travel and tourism, an increase of 50% on 2009. In 2010, seven of the top 10 countries for US overseas visitation posted new records: France, Brazil, South Korea, Australia, Italy, the People's Republic of China and India. These markets led to a record 26 million combined overseas visitors, surpassing the record set by these countries in 2000.