International visitation to the U.S. is booming, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In the first quarter of 2008, visitation was up 15 percent over the same period last year, and spending was up by 20 percent. This builds on a record-breaking year for international arrivals and receipts in 2007. Over the past year, visitation increased by 18 percent in the East South Central region, which encompasses Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, by 11 percent in the South Atlantic region, and by 4 percent in the West South Central region. View the latest tourism statistics at http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2008-I-001/index.html and http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2007_States_and_Cities.pdf.
from Southern Compass