Brand USA, an organization that consists of government agencies and private companies, has determined that international travelers spent 11 percent more in the United States during the first eight months of 2012, according to The Associated Press.
The group created the country's initial campaign to increase the number of international tourists. With heightened security after the September 11 attacks and difficulty of processing a visa, tourism has declined in the U.S. over the past 10 years.
"The campaign is critical because travel and tourism is the country's largest services export and a huge job creator," said Caroline Beteta, Brand USA's acting CEO.
Between January and August 2012, international visitors have spent almost $82.2 billion on traveling to the U.S. and tourism-related goods and services, the group said. International travelers could spend up to a record of $169 billion by the end of the year, estimated Brand USA.
Read AP's story here.