The year-over-year increase of one million visitors came from overseas, with the 9.8 million international travelers accounting for more than 20% of the total number of tourists coming to New York City, and more than one-third of overseas visitors to the US. NYC and Co. expanded its global reach in '08 to 18 overseas offices serving 25 international markets. The city's hotel occupancy rate, while off by 1.5 percentage points from '07, remains 20 percentage points above the national average, according to a release. Through September, attendance at New York City visitor attractions and cultural organizations rose 14% over the same period last year, according to NYC & Co. estimates.

"Despite the economic challenges all cities are facing, tourism remains a bright spot for New York City," says Bloomberg in a release. He adds, "To be sure, the ongoing downturn will weigh on New York City's hospitality industry as people all over the world cut back on travel, but the investments we've made to promote New York City will continue to pay dividends, now more than ever. The importance of diversifying our economy is clearer today than ever, and we will continue to make strategic investments to promote New York City and keep it the place travelers want to come."

At a news conference Monday announcing the '08 tourism figures, NYC & Co. CEO George Fertitta predicted a decline of less than 10% during 2009. That squares with state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's projection that New York City hotel occupancy in '09 would slip by nine percentage points. However, in a report on the city's outlook issued last week, DiNapoli warned that "tourism in New York City has… lost its momentum."