Press Release

2007 Sets All Time International Tourism Record For U.S.

Over 56 Million International Visitors Spent 122 Billion

WASHINGTON–U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced that 2007 set an all time record for international tourism, with visitors pumping $122 billion into the U.S. economy from over 56 million international visitors supporting 8.5 million American jobs. Last year exceeded all previous records in both international spending and visitation to the United States. Over half of international visitors came to America from NAFTA alone.

"This is yet another record-breaking year for the US travel and tourism industry and another year in which it produced a healthy trade surplus," Gutierrez said.

International visitors spent a record-breaking $122.7 billion visiting the United States in 2007. This is an increase of nearly 14 percent over the previous record set in 2006 and a 53 percent increase from the low numbers following September 11, 2001. Spending by international travelers while in the U.S., including passenger fares, is defined as a U.S. export.

A record 56.7 million international visitors traveled to the U.S. in 2007, an increase of 11 percent over 2006. This level also surpassed the 2000 record year of 51.2 million visitors. Ten of the top 25 markets broke records set in previous years and the NAFTA countries combined with a total of almost 33 million visitors.

U.S. travel and tourism industry is a $1.2 trillion industry, generating a trade surplus for this country for 19 consecutive years. The travel and tourism industry is a major employer in the U.S. economy. It employs 8.5 million people, which is more than other major industries such as the construction industry, the business and financial services industries, agriculture, and education.

2007 Spending and Visitation Highlights

• 2007 marks the 19th consecutive year that the United States has enjoyed a travel and tourism balance of trade surplus.
• The 2007 travel trade surplus of $17.8 billion is a 113 percent increase over 2006 and the largest surplus in a decade.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totaled 23.9 million, up 10 percent for the year. (Overseas visitation levels were still below the record year of 2000 by eight percent.)

2007 Top Countries with international visitors coming to the United States

1. Canada—17,735,000
2. Mexico—15,089,000
3. United Kingdom—4,497,858
4. Japan—3,531,489
5. Germany—1,524,151
6. France—997,506
7. South Korea—806,175
8. Australia—669,536
9. Brazil—639,431
10. Italy— 634,152

Total Arrivals: 56,716,277

Background
Manufacturing and Services’ Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) collects, analyzes, and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. For more information on OTTI programs, please visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/index.html.