Posted: Tuesday, 22 July 2008 10:34PM
International Tourism Up in Phila.
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by KYW's Pat Loeb
Philadelphia attracted a record number of international visitors last year, according to a report by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Fritz Smith, vice president of tourism for the bureau, says Philadelphia has seen a 27 percent increase in the number of foreign visitors:
"The exchange rate is really driving visitation rates from overseas, but we think that Philadelphia is getting a disproportionate share of that market because we've been marketing very aggressively overseas, particularly in western Europe."
Meanwhile, convention business held steady, which convention division vice president Jack Ferguson says is good news in a downturning economy.
Ferguson says Philadelphia's location is key:
"With 40 percent of the US population within a day's drive, there are different options of how to get here."
Ferguson predicts Philadelphia will continue to do well -- as long as it gets a larger convention center.
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