New Orleans hits second highest all time visitor count, 9.01 million in 2012, tourism officials announce

New Orleans hits second highest all time visitor count, 9.01 million in 2012, tourism officials announce
March 12, 2013
By Mark Waller, N
NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune

New Orleans tourism officials announced on Tuesday that the city achieved its second-highest visitor count on record in 2012, when 9.01 million people traveled to the city. Only 2004 surpassed that total, with its 10.4 million visitors.

A University of New Orleans study concluded the 2012 visitors spent an all-time record $6 billion in the city. In 2004, spending was pegged at $4.9 billion.

The numbers mean 2012 was the biggest year for tourism in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina by all measures. Researchers and officials said the upward trend is persistent enough to suggest a permanent improvement in the city's appeal to visitors.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2013/03/new_orleans_hits_second-highes.html