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

September 19, 2007

THE UNITED STATES JOINS OTHER GLOBAL DESTINATIONS IN THE
ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF WORLD TOURISM DAY

Destinations around the globe will be celebrating World Tourism Day on Thursday, September 27. The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has developed resources to help you stage a public salute to World Tourism Day. Use this one-day event to reach local media, speak publicly about the benefits of travel in your community and join a worldwide celebration of the power of travel. Consider participating in World Tourism Day on September 27 and remind local and statewide audiences of travel’s incredible benefits. For more information visit: www.unwto.org/wtd/index.php.

World Tourism Day events can provide an opportunity to look beyond borders and celebrate the unique opportunities created by travel and tourism.
The international travel industry is vital to the U.S. economy. In 2006 the United States welcomed almost 51 million international visitors.  These visitors spent a record $108 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services, positioning international travel as one of the country’s largest service exports.  Economic impact aside, international visitation also presents the United States with a tremendous opportunity to show people from near and far what defines this country and what makes our culture unique. 

According to the UNWTO, global tourism set a new record in 2006, with 842 million arrivals worldwide and global tourism-related spending reaching $735 billion.  The United States leads the world in global tourism receipts and is ranked third among world destinations in terms of visitation.  The United States’ share of world arrivals has been steady for the last three years (6.1%).   The United States is on pace to set a new record for international arrivals and spending in 2007. 

Domestic and international travel within the United States are critical components of the U.S. economy.  According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts, tourism spending in the United States directly supports more than 5.8 million jobs.  Direct travel expenditures totaled over $700 billion in 2006; total travel-related output exceeded $1.2 trillion (more than $500 billion of indirect output).  Indirect tourism-related output comprises all inputs used in the process of producing direct tourism output (e.g., toiletries for hotel guests, the various ingredients used to make the meals served airline passengers, and the plastic used to produce souvenir key chains).

For additional information and background on inbound and outbound travel to and from the United States, please refer to the following:

OTTI’s inbound travel page at:  http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/inbound.general_information.inbound_overview.html

OTTI’s outbound travel page at:  http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/outbound.general_information.outbound_overview.html

World & U.S. International Visitor Arrivals & Receipts
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/inbound.world_us_intl_arrivals.html