A record 41 million tourists visited New York City in 2005, and this year the city expects a new high of 43.3 million visitors, Mayor Bloomberg and the leaders of NYC & Company announced yesterday.

The mayor said visits by international tourists, who spend more when they travel to New York than do American tourists, are expected to grow at a faster pace than visits by domestic travelers. NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism marketing organization, forecasts that 7.2 million international tourists will come to New York this year, up 7.5% from 6.7 million last year. The number of domestic tourists is expected to grow to 36 million this year.

If those predictions come true, the number of international tourists will have topped pre-2001 levels for the first time since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which decimated the numbers of foreigners vacationing in New York City.

“Tourism, which supports nearly 330,000 jobs in our city and which is so vital to New Yorkers who are just starting their climb up the economic ladder, has more than made up the ground we lost following 9/11,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “Building on last year’s record-setting momentum, we’re projecting another banner year for 2006.”

The president of NYC & Company, Cristyne Nicholas, said her group expects the number of tourists to rise because the city is pursuing major events that attract people to and raise interest in New York.

For example, the city has already made a pitch to the Latin Recording Academy and has promised a 10-month Latin Music Fiesta in New York leading up to its awards show if the show is held in New York.

As the mayor said yesterday in his keynote address: “Nueva York, the entertainment and media capital of the world, is a natural for the Latin Grammys.”

Ms. Nicholas said her group is also planning events such as a new half marathon through Manhattan to attract visitors to New York.

It is also taking more traditional routes, like pushing the city at trade shows. It is reaching out to emerging markets including South America, Eastern Europe, and China, trying to convince people there, many of whom have disposable income, to visit.

Ms. Nicholas said increased tourism means increased income for New Yorkers.

“It means investment in an industry that is becoming the backbone of New York City,” she said. “It means more jobs for New Yorkers. It means more tax revenue that is coming in from elsewhere so it keeps our taxes low.”

According to NYC & Company, nearly 329,000 jobs in New York City are supported by traveler spending. That constitutes about 6.8% of the city’s total employment base.

According to new figures released yesterday by NYC & Company, tourists generated more than $22 billion in spending last year, as well as $5.4 billion in taxes and $13 billion in wages.

The new figures released yesterday were prepared for NYC & Company by Global Insight Incorporated.