Record number of visitors in US this year forecast

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WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (AFP): US officials yesterday dismissed a claim by tourism professionals that visitor numbers to the United States have plummeted since 2001 and were not forecast to pick up in the short term.
"The total number of travellers to the United States, as well as spending by those visitors, is forecast to hit record levels by the end of 2007," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Service Ana Guevara said in a statement sent.
"Furthermore, in 2006, visitors to the US spent 108 billion dollars, nearly five billion more than any year in US history," Guevara said.