The upward trend of international travel to the U.S. continued in 2005. Last year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the number of foreign visitors to the U.S. rose 6.7 percent. During 2004 and ‘05, but not counting travelers from Canada and Mexico, international travel to the U.S. increased by 20.3 percent, the largest two-year rise since 1996.

Travel to the U.S. began to increase during the fourth quarter of 2003, following 10 quarterly declines that began in the first quarter of 2001.

According to PwC, a number of factors contribute to the recovery in the number of international travelers to the U.S.:

• Global economic performance has accelerated.

• The dollar remains weak relative to most currencies and is forecast to continue modest declines through 2007.

• Two years ago, the Department of Commerce launched marketing initiatives to increase awareness and develop a positive image of the U.S. as a tourism destination. The campaigns have targeted the United Kingdom and Japan.