Tourism insiders around the world have welcomed the re-election of American president Barack Obama following a hotly contested battle with Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

Obama is widely seen as proactive in the tourism arena, having overseen the launch of Brand USA during his first term.

The public-private initiative is an attempt to reinvigorate the flagging tourism sector in the United States.

As president, Obama also moved to cut visa waiting times for visitors from China and Brazil, as well as reducing restrictions on travel to and from Cuba.

In 2010, North Korea eased travel restrictions on Americans, and in January 2011 president Obama restored diplomatic relations with Myanmar.

America’s first black president secured the 270 votes in the electoral college needed to win the race earlier this morning.

In his victory speech before supporters in Chicago, Obama said he would talk to Romney about “where we can work together to move this country forward”.