As interest in the American South has grown across Europe, so has the number of international visitors coming to Birmingham. With the potential to increase international visitation in mind, the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau has a newly-formed partnership with Global Travel Marketing in the United Kingdom. The office will serve as a liaison for trade and consumer inquiries about Birmingham. Much of the promotional focus will be directed toward group tour operators, targeting new group travel customers with an eye toward golf, adventure and special interests such as civil rights. “Last year, Birmingham hosted more than four million visitors, and we intend to increase that number by broadening the invitation to visit,” J. John Oros, Jr., CVB president said. “The UK has proven to be a valuable market for Alabama travel, and our presence there can only add strength to the numbers.”