International travel to the United States rose 6.7 percent

to 22 million people in 2005, following a 13.6 percent rise in 2004, marking the largest two-year increase since 1996, according toPricewaterhouseCoopers. The weak dollar, global economic recovery and new promotional campaigns prompted the jump and boosted overall hotel demand, PwC said. Excluding travelers from Canada and Mexico, these figures are important indicators for travel suppliers, since international travelers "have longer lengths of stay, pay higher room rates and spend more" than domestic travelers, said Bjorn Hanson, principal of PwC’s hospitality and leisure practice.