New York City is on track to achieve record-breaking tourism levels in 2010, according to a recent report.

During a ceremony at New York City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was joined by Delta Airlines, elected officials, and NYC & Company (the official marketing, tourism and partnership organisation for the City of New York), to announce that the city hosted approximately 23.5 million visitors in the first half of 2010 - a 4.2 percent increase over 2009 and a new record.

"The first half of 2010 has been particularly strong and our early projections show a return to record-breaking visitation levels," NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta said.  "Under the leadership of Mayor Bloomberg, we have created the city's first global marketing campaign and developed strategic public-private partnerships that have built and promoted the brand of New York City around the world in a way that ensures this US$30 billion industry remains vibrant and engages both visitors and New Yorkers alike."

The strong results were spread across the tourism industry's sectors. Average hotel occupancy rates for January to June 2010 were up 6.8 percent compared to the same period in 2009, with an additional one million hotel room nights sold. Hotel tax revenue from these sales contributed US $178 million to the city - a 25 percent increase on the previous year.

The influx of tourists was facilitated by a 9.4 percent increase in the number of Amtrak non-commuter passengers arriving at Penn Station in the first half of 2010. In-bound passenger traffic at the city's three major airports was also up 1.2 percent, whilst international arrivals rose 4.8 percent.