Nevada's appeal to foreign tourists grows

Nevada grabbed a bigger share of the market for foreign tourism in the United States in 2003, and this year is likely to prove strong as well.

The number of foreign visitors to the state rose by 7 percent last year a figure that tied the state with Indiana for the biggest percentage increase and Nevada was one of only four states that didn't see a decline in foreign visitors last year.

The study by the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries didn't break out tourism figures for northern and southern Nevada.

Foreign tourism is particularly important to the state's economic health, says Bruce Bommarito, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

International visitors typically spend about 14 days in the state, compared with an average visit of slightly more than three days by domestic visitors.

And, Bommarito says foreign visitors spend an average of about 10 percent more each day that they're in the state.

The United Kingdom last year provided the largest number of visitors to Nevada.

Other Western European nations also were a growing factor in the state's tourism industry.

European visitors, Bommarito says, are particularly drawn to the Nevada's outdoor attractions and its Old West environment.

At the same time, the tourism commission continues to focus on the potential of markets in the Far East particularly China.

Among Chinese, some 93 percent list Nevada as a place they want to visit, Bommarito says, and Chinese travelers spend an average of $5,200 per visit.

"It's the next great market," he says.

"It's growing rapidly."

The Japanese tourism market, hammered by security concerns after the Sept.

11 attacks, has begun to recover this year, Bommarito says.

He co-chairs an initiative with U.S.

Commerce Secretary Donald Evans to rebuild tourism between the United States and Japan.

The Office of Travel & Tourism Industries also found that Nevada's share of the market is growing among visitors from Australia and South America.

Among the tactics used by the tourism commission to build international business are trips abroad to meet with tourism decision-makers and financing of trips to Nevada by foreign tour operators and travel

writers.