TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI)

August 08, 2007                *** Revised, ….Top Ports now reads May 2007 ***

INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP 10 PERCENT IN MAY 2007

Year-To-Date Arrivals 8 Percent Above Last Year

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 3.8 million international visitors traveled to the United States in May 2007, an increase of 10 percent over May 2006. Total visitation in for the first five months of 2007 was up almost eight percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent $9.7 billion during the month, up eight percent from May 2006 and $47.6 billion year-to-date, also up eight percent from the same period in 2006.

Highlights of May 2007 International Arrivals1 to the United States

• Canadian visitation grew four percent over May 2006 with by air arrivals up six percent and land arrivals up three percent. Year-to-date arrivals were also up four percent.
• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 27 percent in May 2007. This aggregate included air arrivals, which were up 16 percent while land arrivals increased by 32 percent in May 2007. Air arrivals year-to-date 2007 were up seven percent.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 11 percent in May 2007 and were up seven percent for the year compared to the first five months of 2006.
• Visitation from Western Europe was up 12 percent in May 2007, and was up seven percent year-to-date. Eastern European arrivals were also up 12 percent in May for the first five months of 2007, respectively.
• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up seven percent in May bringing it to an almost two percent growth year-to-date. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 42 percent of all Western European arrivals.
• German and Italian arrivals were both up13 percent and French arrivals were up 27 percent for the month. This continues a double-digit growth trend from late 2006. Arrivals from the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain grew 14, nine percent and 17 percent, respectively, in May.
• Visitation from Asia increased almost six percent in May and was up three percent year-to-date. Japanese arrivals were eight percent below the May 2006 visitor level and were down six percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 56 percent of all Asian visitors for the year. Arrivals from India and PR China jumped 64 percent and 25 percent, respectively for the month and were both up double digits for the year.
• Arrivals from South America were up 20 percent in May. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela were noted for May and year-to-date. Brazil was the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 29 percent of arrivals from the region. Central American arrivals were up 11 percent in May and up five percent for the year.
• Travel from Oceania increased 12 percent in May with Australia also registering a 12 percent increase. Australia accounted for 82 percent of all arrivals from Oceania so far in 2007.
• Visitation from the Caribbean was up 19 percent in May and 11 percent for the year. Most arrivals are by air. Middle Eastern arrivals were up 16 percent in May while African visitation increased by five percent. The latter regions have posted double-digit increases in arrivals for the first five months of 2007.

To access the 2007 monthly arrivals data for world regions and top markets, visit
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/index.html

The following is a summary of top port arrival activity for May 2007 year-to-date.

TOP PORTS May 2007 Year-to-Date

Arrivals to the USA by port-of-entry are tracked on a monthly basis. The Department of Commerce has arrival data on more than 40 U.S. ports-of-entry from all world regions and 30 countries. A brief analysis is presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2007.

Overseas arrivals (which excludes Canada and Mexico) were up seven percent through May 2007. Arrivals through the top 15 ports-of-entry accounted for 85 percent of all overseas arrivals, slightly more than in 2006.

Thirteen of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the first five months of 2007. Six of these airports posted double-digit increases. New York maintained its lead in non-resident arrivals with a 13 percent increase. Arrivals through Newark were up 16 percent moving it into 4th position, ahead of Honolulu, which dropped seven percent from last year. Chicago moved ahead of Agana, Guam. Orlando Sanford moved into 15th position, ahead of Dallas.

To access top port activity, go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/top_ports.html

SOURCE:

The monthly Summary of International Travel to the U.S. report has approximately 30 tables that provide data on monthly and year-to-date arrivals to the country. The report provides data on approximately 90 countries each month and more than 40 ports of entry. Numerous breakouts are provided by world region and country for the port tables as well.

To find out more about this program, please go to: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/i94/index.html

If you would like to purchase the monthly international arrivals reports, please go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/reports/i94/index.html

¹ (The U.S. Department of Commerce complies with the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) standard definition and class of international travelers when reporting monthly and annual arrivals data. This standard excludes all day-trippers from any of the counts/estimates including those from Canada and Mexico.)

U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
14th & Constitution Avenue NW, Room 1003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone:(202) 482-0140
Fax: (202) 482-2887
Email: Tinet_info@ita.doc.gov