(Yicai Global) Aug. 14 -- The number of tourists from the Chinese mainland visiting the US grew 15 percent last year, with spending up by 9 percent, latest data from the US Department of Commerce show.

Some 75.6 million foreigners visited the US for business, medical, education and entertainment purposes last year, spending USD244.7 billion, the US Department of Commerce said in a press release on Aug. 11. Overseas visitor numbers fell 2 percent last year from a year ago, with spending down by 1 percent. This is the first time that the number of foreigners visiting the US has declined since 2009.

The number of tourists from the Chinese mainland has risen for 13 consecutive years, with double-digit growth in 12 years, the US Department of Commerce said, adding that the number of Chinese visitors has grown 11-fold since 2005. Chinese visitors already account for 3.9 percent of foreign tourists in the US, ranking fifth.