COMMERCE FORECASTING STRONG TRAVEL GROWTH: The Commerce Department is projecting 6-8 percent average annual growth in tourism in the U.S. over the next five years. This year, 64 million foreign travelers are projected to visit the U.S., spending $144 billion during their stays, which would set a new record for travel exports.

The new data is part of the 2011 International Travel and Tourism Forecast, released at the U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Pow in San Francisco. The numbers of tourists from China, South Korea, Brazil, Russia and India are expected to rise dramatically, according to Commerce data.

“Growth in travel and tourism – with many international visitors spending a lot of money in America – will help us achieve the president’s goal of doubling exports, which will support millions of American jobs,” said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. “Last year, our nation hosted a record-breaking number of international visitors, and the future looks even brighter.”

In 2010, the U.S. hosted 60 million international visitors, generating more than $134 billion in receipts and a $32 billion trade surplus, according to the report. Nearly 8 million people are employed in travel and tourism industries, and 1.2 million are tied directly to international travelers