According to the city's tourism agency, New York welcomed a total of 35.3 million visitors in 2002. Story Tools

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A record number of domestic tourists visited New York City in 2002, according to NYC and Company, the city's tourism agency.

The city welcomed 30.2 million domestic visitors -- an increase of 2.2 percent -- and remained the No. 1 U.S. destination for overseas travelers.

"[The] New York City tourism industry really is making tremendous strides recovering from the aftermath of 9/11 and the slumping global economy," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a press conference.

The mayor attributed the record number of domestic tourists in the city partially to the renewed "patriotism of after 9/11 ... But I think also people read that New York City is the place to be," he said.

According to NYC and Company, the total number of visitors to New York in 2002 was 35.2 million, an increase of 0.3 percent from 2001.

The number of international visitors to New York City fell 10 percent in 2002.