WASHINGTON, US - AMID a weakening US dollar, foreign travel to the United States is surging in 2008, government figures released showed on Monday.

The Commerce Department said international visits rose 15 per cent in the first quarter from a year ago, and visitor spending increased by 20 percent. In March 2008, visits rose 19 per cent to 4.7 million.

International visitors spent a record 11.4 billion dollars in March, a 20 per cent increase from March 2007.

'America's success is its openness, and being open to international travel and tourism to the United States boosts the US economy,' said Commerce Assistant Secretary William Sutton.

'Rising international visitation continues to have a positive impact on our travel and tourism industry. The strong start in the first quarter of 2008 builds on the momentum set in 2007, a record-breaking year for international arrivals and receipts.'

According to the data, overseas arrivals excluding Canada and Mexico increased 10 per cent for the month compared with March 2007 and also for the first quarter of 2008.

The number of visits from Canada was up 26 per cent for the month and 21 per cent for the quarter. From Mexico, the number of visits rose 31 per cent in March and 18 per cent for the quarter.

Visits from western Europe increased 15 per cent in March and 14 per cent for the quarter.

For 2007, international visitors spent more than 122 billion dollars on travel and tourism-related goods and services, up 13 per cent from 2006. -- AFP