Travel to US 'set to boom'

The number of visitors travelling to the United States will break records in 2007, according to government officials.

US commerce secretary Carlos M Gutierrez said that this year will mark a full return to tourism levels seen before the events of September 11th 2001.

He stated that travel to the country will increase by 21 per cent over the next five years, with 61.6 million holidaymakers set to visit the United States in 2011.

Travel from Brazil, China and India to the country was also predicted to particularly see growth during this time.

"International travel to the United States continues to show growth over growth as it reaches near record highs in the number of international visitors to our country," commented Mr Gutierrez.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that Britons made nearly 4.5 million trips to the United States last year.

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