Washington Foreign Visitor Numbers Surge

The District of Columbia hosted a record 20.2 million visitors last year, including a 16 percent surge in foreign tourist numbers.

Tourism spending hit USD$6.8 billion in 2014, up 1.9 percent from 2013, Destination DC said in a statement, as visitors flocked to the city's museums, monuments, historic sites and events.

The 1.9 million foreign tourists in 2014 marks the biggest yearly increase in overseas visitors in five years.

The top five countries for foreign visitors were China, Britain, Germany, France and Australia. Overseas tourists made up 9 percent of visitors, but represent 27 percent of visitor spending when Mexico and Canada are included, the statement said.

A spokeswoman for Destination DC said Washington was a "top 10 tier city" among US tourism destinations, with New York at No. 1.

Washington enjoyed an 8 percent increase in US market share of overseas visitors in 2014, with 5.4 percent of them visiting the city.