22 December,2011 08:54 AM IST | | Agencies
A couple from Lichfield, Staffordshire, have been awarded more than Rs 10 lakh in cash and prizes as the 50 millionth visitors to New York in 2011.
Craig Johnson and his partner Lucy arrived in the city earlier this week with their family, including their children Grace and Thomas to get married at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at the Rockefeller Centre.
Following the ceremony, Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, named them the honorary 50 millionth visitors during an announcement in Times Square.
The couple were presented with a 'Golden Ticket' to New York, including a $10,000 (Rs 5.25 lakh) American Express gift card, a $10,000 (Rs 5.25 lakh) and a travel package to return to the city in 2012.
Officials in New York are celebrating a record year for tourism.
An estimated 50.2 million people will visit the city by the end of the year.
NYC & Company, is responsible for promoting the city as a tourist destination.
"We're thrilled to reach Mayor Bloomberg's tourism goal one year ahead of schedule," said Emily Rafferty, chairman of NYC & Company. "Our diverse cultural organisations throughout all five boroughs contribute so much to the continued success of our tourism industry."
