A record number of tourists visited New York City this year, spending about $32 billion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today.
By the end of 2011, about 50.2 million people will have visited the city, generating an economic impact of around $48 billion, the city said in a news release.
Tourism has contributed to supporting 320,000 jobs in the five boroughs, according to the city.
"Five and half years ago, we set an ambitious goal to reach 50 million visitors by 2015 and in 2008, we accelerated that goal to be the end of 2012," Mr Bloomberg said in a statement.
"Today, we know that we will exceed this significant milestone by year's end."
New York also kept its ranking in 2011 as the Number one city destination and overseas destination in the United States.
The city will attract 10.1 million international visitors in 2011, up 4 per cent from 2010. The United Kingdom is the top source of overseas visitors, with more than 1 million expected by the end of this year - a 2 per cent increase.
The city also expects to attract a record number of domestic visitors - 40.1 million, up 2.9 per cent from last year.
New York City held onto its position as the premier port of entry to the United States. The city increased its market share for all inbound US international travel, from a 28 per cent market share in 2006 to about a 33 per cent market share in 2010.
Reuters