Top Nationalities of Foreign Travelers to the U.S., 2011 The U.S. Travel Association tracks the nationalities of foreigners who visit the United States. In 2011, more Canadians traveled to the U.S. than residents of any other country. Residence of travelers to the U.S.2011 Arrivals 1. Canada21 million 2.Mexico13.4 million 3.United Kingdom3.8 million 4.Japan3.3 million 5.Germany1.8 million 6.Brazil1.51 million 7.France1.50 million 8.South Korea1.15 million 9.China1.09 million 10.Australia1.04 million 11.Italy892,000 12.Spain700,000 13.India663,000 14.Netherlands601,000 15.Venezuela561,000 Total foreign tourists, all countries49,570,225 Source:Office of Travel and Tourism Industries/International Trade Administration. Web: www.tia.org

Top Nationalities of Foreign Travelers to the U.S., 2009 The U.S. Travel Association tracks the nationalities of foreigners who visit the United States. In 2009, more Canadians traveled to the U.S. than residents of any other country. Residence of travelers to the U.S.2009 Arrivals 1. Canada17,964,450 2.Mexico13,164,000 3.United Kingdom3,899,170 4.Japan2,918,270 5.Germany1,686,830 6.France1,204,490 7.Brazil892,610 8.Italy753,300 9.South Korea743,850 10.Australia723,580 11.Spain596,770 12.India549,470 13.Netherlands547,790 14.China524,820 15.Venezuela507,190 16.Columbia424,530 17.Ireland411,200 18.Argentina356,430 19.Switzerland355,730 20.Sweden324,420 21.Israel308,210 22.Belgium245,710 23.Denmark245,620 24.Taiwan239,545 25.Dominican Republic227,950 Total foreign tourists, all countries49,570,225 Source:Office of Travel and Tourism Industries/International Trade Administration. Web: www.tia.org

Top U.S. States and Cities Visited by Overseas Travelers, 20111 State/territoryNumber of arrivalsU.S. cityNumber of arrivals 1. New York 9.50 million1.New York9.28 million 2. California6.13 million2.Los Angeles3.65 million 3. Florida5.68 million3.Miami2.95 million 4. Nevada2.87 million4.San Francisco2.87 million 5. Hawaii2.28 million5.Orlando2.78 million 6. Massachusetts1.42 million5.Las Vegas2.78 million 7. Texas1.28 million7.Metro DC area1.81 million 8. Illinois1.25 million8.Oahu/Honolulu1.78 million 9. Guam1.22 million9.Boston1.31 million 10. New Jersey976,00010.Chicago1.19 million NOTE: Includes travelers for business and pleasure, international travelers in transit through the United States, and students; excludes travel by international personnel and international businessmen employed in the United States. 1. Excludes visitors from Canada and Mexico. Source:U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries/International Trade Administration.

The World's Most-Visited Tourist Attractions: Recently,Travel + Leisurecompiled a list of the most-visited tourist attractions in the world by gathering data supplied by the attraction sites themselves. The results were surprising. 1. Times Square, New York City Over 39 million visitors a year visit the heart of New York City to shop, see a Broadway show, take in all the sights and sounds or just to people watch. In 2009, pedestrian-only areas with tables were added so tourists could sit while taking in the complete spectacle that is Time Square. 2. Central Park, New York City This nearly 850 acre square park is visited yearly by 38 million people. It's the Big Apple location that is enjoyed more than any other by locals and tourists equally. With a zoo, horse-drawn carriages, a John Lennon memorial, and more, this park has something for everyone. 3. Union Station, Washington, D.C. Along with over 12,000 daily commuters, this station also receives visits from 37 million tourists a year. And it's easy to see why. Opened in 1907, the station has over 70 shops and provides architecture buffs with examples of Baroque, Beaux-Arts and Classical styles. 4. The Las Vegas Strip In 2011, nearly 29.5 million travelers stayed in hotels along the Las Vegas strip, an increase from years past. Part of the reason for the increase could be the huge 2009 hit movie,The Hangover, which features the Las Vegas strip, and Caesar's Palace, in particular. The Vegas strip also continues to attract mega stars like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Celine Dion for nightly performances which run for weeks at a time, drawing fans from all over. Las Vegas, the amusement park for adults, shows no sign of slowing down. 5. Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario, Canada Even though there are approximately 500 taller waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls draws 22.5 million visitors a year who want to see its volume and power. Six million cubic feet of water flows down per minute. And Niagara Falls ranges in height from 70 to 188 feet. It's also an easy location for many tourists in the U.S. and Canada to get to. 6. Grand Central Station, New York City Commuters aside, 21.6 million tourists visit Grand Central's terminal each year. Visitors take in the ceiling which is painted with night sky constellations as well as shops and events. There is also the popular, historic Oyster Bar, featured on an episode ofMad Men. 7. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston With its history as well as its variety of shops and restaurants, Faneuil Hall attracts 18 million people a year. A downtown marketplace located not too far from Boston's financial district and the harbor, Faneuil Hall is a pedestrian-only area where tourists can get a bite to eat, buy souvenirs and be entertained by street performers. The fact that it's been around since 1742 and was the site of speeches by the likes of George Washington adds to Faneuil Hall's allure. 8. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando Nearly 17 million people a year visit the world's most-visited and best known amusement park. A must for any family, people still come in droves to take in Cinderella's castle as well as other classic sites and rides. 9. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA The second most-visited theme park in the world brings in nearly 16 million people per year. Smaller than the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, this amusement park still has 85 acres of rides and thrills including the popular Indiana Jones Adventure. 10. Grand Bazaar, Istanbul This 15th-century bazaar receives 15 million visitors a year. Both locals and tourists bargain hunt for carpets, jewelry, ceramics and more. There are vendors selling food and Turkish coffee, too, when people need a break from all the shopping. Source:Travel + Leisure Magazine, 2011

Places to See Before They Disappear: Many of the world's most wondrous and beautiful destinations are in danger of being destroyed by a combination of environmental and social factors: a warming climate, pollution, strained resources, bulging populations, and booming tourist traffic. Below are some popular locations worth visiting before they disappear. Glaciers, Glacier National Park United States and Canada Glacier National Park contains some of the most beautiful, primitive wilderness in the Rocky Mountains. There are more than 200 glacier-fed lakes, high peaks, sheer precipices, large forests, waterfalls, much wildlife, and a great variety of wildflowers. However, temperature fluctuations have caused glacier growth and depletion. Ten thousand years ago, the area of Glacier National Park was covered by ice up to one mile below sea level. The latest warm period has caused the number of glaciers to decrease from 150 in 1850 to 26 today. If current global warming trends continue, there will be no glaciers left in Glacier National Park by 2030. Venice, Italy With as many as 40 floods per year between March and September, Venice is slowly sinking at an estimated rate of 2.5 inches every 10 ten years. Venice, a city of beauty and charm, was built as a collection of 118 separate islands, relying entirely on a canal system of about 150 canals, mostly very narrow, crossed by some 400 bridges. A severe flood in December 2008 brought renewed attention to Venice's vulnerable state and imminent fate as an underwater city. The Dead Sea Border between Israel and the West Bank (W) and Jordan (E) Known as one of the saltiest water bodies in the world and the lowest dry point on earth, the Dead Sea is fed by the Jordan River and a number of small streams. Because it is located in a very hot and dry region, the Dead Sea loses much water through evaporation, causing its level to fluctuate during the year. However, inflow to the Dead Sea has been greatly reduced by the increased use of the Jordan River by Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians, who have growing populations and increased agricultural needs, resulting in falling water levels. Currently, the Dead Sea recedes about three feet each year. Mexico City, Mexico In the past 100 years, Mexico City has sunk more than 30 feet. The original city was built on the site of a former lake—the Aztecs built the city on a series of aquatic platforms, but when the Spanish conquered the city, they drained the lake, causing it to sink. As the city population ballooned and the demand for water increased in the 20thcentury, the government began pumping much of the city's supply out of the underground aquifer that once fed the lake, causing the city to sink further. No practical plan has been made for the future to provide the 22 million inhabitants of Mexico City with the water they need without destroying the city. Taj Mahal Agra, Uttar Pradesh state, India A mausoleum in northern India on the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and the finest example of the late style of Indian Islamic architecture. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan ordered it built after the death of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The building, which was completed between 1632 and 1638, is visited by three to four million tourists each year. The crowds and air pollution, however, have caused irreversible damage to the building's façade, prompting tourism officials to consider closing the historic site to the public. Pyramids of Giza Giza, Egypt One of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza, located outside modern Cairo, consist of three magnificent royal tombs guarded by a Sphinx. The Pyramids have been a heavily trafficked sightseeing area for centuries, but the pollution and magnitude of visitors has taken its toll on the ancient structures, which are not protected by Egyptian officials. Although camel and horseback tours are now banned from the site, the structures are still difficult to see through the crowds and vendors. Little Green Street London, United Kingdom Located in the center of London, Little Green Street, is one of only a few surviving streets from Georgian England. Lined with about a dozen 18thcentury homes, Little Green Street only stretches a city block in length, but has survived the Blitz in World War II and three centuries of construction. As a perfect example of Regency London, it has been featured in poetry, photo shoots, and music videos, but today it is threatened by construction. Although an attempt to acquire the property failed in 2008, developers' appeals continue, and the threat of Little Green Street's destruction looms ahead.