NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Tourism officials in New Orleans say the city is attracting visitors this year despite the recession and is bouncing back from 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
The Visitors Bureau said about 1 million people came to the city for Mardi Gras, about the same number as before the hurricane, USA Today reports. New Orleans was the only city among the top 25 tourist destinations in the United States to report better hotel occupancy this year than last.