More tourists traveled to New York City this year than in any other, and the Bloomberg administration has launched an international campaign to increase the number of travelers vacationing in the five boroughs beyond the new record.

Mayor Bloomberg announced yesterday that an estimated 44 million tourists visited the city in 2006, surpassing the 2005 record of 41 million visitors and pumping $24 billion into the economy.

“The monies that tourists spend are the monies that create the jobs in the city that we’re so dependent on,” Mr. Bloomberg told reporters at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx as tourists milled around at the annual holiday train show.

The city’s marketing arm, NYC & Company — which has placed advertisements on the London underground — will be expanding its targeted advertisements to Italy, Ireland, and Spain, starting next week.

As part of its new promotional program, the city has identified 70 days when American tourism in New York is slowest, and it will market discounted hotel and airline rates to international tourists for those dates.

The advertising campaign is expected to capitalize on the weak dollar, promoting the bargains available in New York — especially compared with the British pound.

The city’s recently launched Web site, nycopenbook.com, includes a quiz that highlights New York’s attractions and affordability. One question says: “The Tower of London entrance fee is 15 pounds. How much is the entrance fee at the Empire State Building? The answer: Nine pounds (or about $18).”

The record-breaking tourism numbers come as the city is vying with international competitors such as London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai to keep its economic edge.

The U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board released a report in September titled “Restoring America’s Travel Brand” that says there are “troubling indicators that suggest the U.S.competitive position is not nearly as strong as it should be” when it comes to tourism.

The report says America’s share of international travel has fallen to 6.1% from a high of 9.4% in 1992. It also says the country needs to better balance security needs with making it easier for travelers to get into the country — a point the mayor also made.

Mr. Bloomberg, who has been outspoken critic of Congress on immigration reform, said current national policy makes it harder for international travelers to come to New York.

While the country needs to protect its borders, he said, it should be encouraging, not discouraging, more legitimate travelers from coming here and spending money, whether it be for business or pleasure.

Mr. Bloomberg said the city is ahead of schedule in its goal of attracting 50 million tourists annually by 2015.

Giuseppe Nocerino, who was outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday, said he and his friends, who are in for the week, plan to go to a bunch of museums and to do some shopping. He said he chose New York because he found a $500 roundtrip flight at the last minute.”The flight was cheaper than to go to the Caribbean Sea,” he said.