The head of New York tourism has named singing superstar Taylor Swift as the city's Global Welcome Ambassador. This move has proved controversial, as Swift is not a native nor a lived for a long period of time in the city she has been appointed to represent.

The songstress was named last week as the spokeswoman for a year-long marketing campaign featuring her new song "Welcome to New York" off of her platinum-selling album, "1989."

However, Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company, came to the defense of Swift's appointment. He said the 24-year-old is the right choice as the city is known as a "city of immigrants."

Still, the decision has raised come criticism from New Yorkers who were disappointed that the Pennsylvania-born, Nashville-raised singer who has lived in New York for less than a year was chosen to be its ambassador. Swift recently purchased a $20 million apartment in Tribeca, where she now lives.

Dixon said that the traditional New Yorker's perspective has "been done," and Swift was selected because of her newcomer status, not in spite of it.

"New York is a city of immigrants, not many of us were born in New York-we've all followed our dreams there," he said to TTG while attending London's World Travel Market.

"[Taylor's] song Welcome To New York is written from the perspective of a newcomer, that starry-eyed optimism and overwhelming energy you feel when you first come to New York, and she wanted to share that," he continued. "It's like we wrote [that song] for our own brand."

He also mentioned that Swift's social media presence and engagement with her fans is something money cannot buy.

The singer will be donating her time to the campaign where she will appear in a series of videos expressing her enthusiasm in the city.