New York City welcomed 50.5 million tourists last year, marking a 3.5% increase compared to the previous year, and smashing their goal of achieving 50 million visitors by 2012, according to the latest figures.

The rise in visitors – which is 300,000 more than officials had predicted in December – is thought to be partly due to mid temperatures in December adding incentive for travellers.

Tourists injected $32 billion into the economy, up from $31.5 billion in 2010, while hotel occupancy averaged 85 percent.

“The unseasonably warm weather during the last two weeks of the year provided an additional incentive for visitors to travel to New York City, helping the industry achieve its best year yet for overall visitation,” NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta said.

The United Kingdom has historically been the top market of origin for overseas visitors in the US and last year also saw a trend towards increased domestic visitors,

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