The United States Ambassador to Australia, Jeff Bleich, presented an official Certificate of Appreciation to the Visit USA Organisation (Australia) for their dedication and commitment to promote tourism to the United States, at an event in Sydney to mark Visit USA Week.

Mr Bleich said the number of Australian visitors to the US was ¡°remarkable¡±, hitting the one million visitor milestone and staying longer in the country than ever before.

Visit USA Australia President Geoffrey Hutton has described 2011 as ¡°the most amazing year for the USA¡± from the local market. ¡°They are also the only international tourists to visit more than two states,¡± Mr Hutton concluded.

Also revealed on the day was Brand USA (formerly called the Corporation for Travel Promotion), the public private partnership formed to promote America. Expected to visit Australia later this year to invest in the local market, Brand USA will match dollar for dollar spending from local companies.