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

April 26, 2007

INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP FIVE PERCENT IN JANUARY 2007

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 3.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States in January 2007, an increase of 5 percent over January 2006.

Highlights of January 2007 International Arrivals to the United States

• Canadian visitation (both air and ground) grew 7 percent over January 2006.
• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 15 percent compared to the same month in 2006. However, air arrivals were down 3 percent.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) increased 2 percent over January of 2006. Arrivals from the overseas markets have posted 4 consecutive months of growth.
• Visitation from Western Europe was up 3 percent compared to January 2006. Arrivals from Eastern Europe, up 11 percent, which continued the double-digit growth starting in late 2006.
• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were down 1 percent in January, less of a decline than in 2006 (down 4 percent). Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 41 percent of all Western European arrivals.
• German, French and Italian arrivals were up 1 percent, 9 percent and 14 percent, respectively. This is a continuation of growth registered in late 2006.
• Visitation from Asia declined 3 percent in January.  Japanese arrivals were 11 percent below the January 2006 visitor level, accounting for 55 percent of all Asian visitors. Arrivals from South Korea, India and the People’s Republic of China grew by double-digits in January, up 11 percent, 31 percent and 19 percent, respectively. However, arrivals from Taiwan and Hong Kong declined 18 percent and 16 percent.
• Arrivals from South America were up 7 percent in January. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela were noted for the month. Brazil is the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 38 percent of arrivals from the region.
• Travel from Oceania increased 6 percent in January with Australia registering a 9 percent increase. Australia accounted for 83 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in January 2007.
• Visitation from Central America and the Caribbean were up 1 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Arrivals in January from the Middle East and Africa increased by 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

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  

International visitors also spent $9.26 billion (travel receipts and passenger fares), up 4 percent from January 2006.

In addition, the following is a summary of top port arrival activity for January 2007.

TOP PORTS   January 2007

Arrivals to the USA by port-of-entry are tracked on a monthly basis. 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 2 percent January 2007. Arrivals through the top 15 ports-of-entry accounted for almost 86 percent of all overseas arrivals and were down two percentage-points from the top 15 in 2006.

The top three ports of entry (New York JFK, Miami and Los Angeles), accounting for 38 percent of all overseas arrivals, were down one percentage-point from that registered in 2006. 

Nine of fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for January 2007. New York, having the most overseas arrivals, moved ahead of Miami. Also, Boston advanced into 14th 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

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