Posted Wednesday, May 9, 2012 --- 7:30 a.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Tourism spending in the state's largest county increased 7 percent in 2011 over the year before.

A study for the Department of Tourism reports tourists spent an estimated $1.57 billion in Milwaukee County last year, compared to the over $1.47 billion spent in 2010.

The 2011 amount is the most of any county in the state.

VISIT Milwaukee hosted 207 conventions in 2011, an increase of 28 percent over the 162 conventions in 2010.

Tourism-related jobs were up by almost 300 full-time positions.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.