Phila. sees big boost in foreign visitors

Philadelphia hosted 550,000 international visitors last year, an increase of 100,000 from 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

Philadelphia reached a record level of international visitors in 2007 due to targeted international marketing by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau to the United Kingdom, Germany and France, according to the report.

Philadelphia was the 12th most visited U.S. city for international visitors, a trend that has been upward since 2002, the report said.

Mayor Nutter attributed the increase to the focused marketing effort, more international flights here, and the favorable value of the dollar based on currency exchange rates.