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

December 19, 2007

INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP 13 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER 2007
SPENDING AT $10.8 BILLION FOR THE MONTH

Year-To-Date Arrivals 10 Percent Above Last Year

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 4.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States in September 2007, an increase of 13 percent over September 2006. The third quarter was the strongest of the year, up 12 percent. Total visitation for the first nine months of 2007 was up 10 percent from the same period in 2006.  International visitors also spent $10.8 billion during the month, up 19 percent from September 2006 and $89 billion year-to-date, up almost 12 percent from the first nine months in 2006.

Highlights of September 2007 International Arrivals¹ to the United States

• Canadian visitation was a “driver”, up 18 percent over September 2006. Air arrivals were up seven percent for the month. Overall arrivals were up eight percent and five percent for air year-to-date.
• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 11 percent in September 2007 and 18 percent for the year. Air arrivals were up 11 percent for the month and 10 percent year-to-date.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 11 percent over September 2006. Third quarter showed the strongest growth in 2007, up12 percent, while the nine months of this year were up 10 percent.
• Visitation from Western Europe had grown 12 percent in September 2007 and was up 16 percent for the third quarter (Q3) and eleven percent year-to-date. Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up six percent in September and year-to-date. The third quarter posted the strongest growth, up 12 percent. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 41 percent of all Western European arrivals this year.
• The other top Western European countries that had grown by double digits in September were Germany, France and Italy, up 11 percent, 20 percent and 21 percent, respectively, for the month. Arrivals from the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Sweden grew 14 percent, 26 percent, 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively, in September. For the first nine months of 2007 all of these countries posted double-digit growth.
• Eastern European arrivals were up nine percent in September and 10 percent for the nine months of 2007. Although visitation from Poland, which accounts for almost 30 percent of arrivals from Eastern Europe, was flat for the month, other source markets, i.e., Russia, were up by double-digits.
• isitation from Asia increased almost seven percent in September and six percent for the third quarter, the largest quarterly growth period this year. Arrivals from Asia were up four percent year-to-date. Growth was driven by visitation from India and PR China, which jumped 39 percent and 24 percent, respectively for the month and grew by 44 percent and 26 percent, respectively, for the year. Japanese arrivals were flat when compared to the September 2006 visitor level and were down four percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 54 percent of all Asian visitors so far this year. South Korean and Taiwanese visitation grew by two percent and 10 percent, respectively for the month and were up eight percent and four percent year-to-date.
• rrivals from South America were up 26 percent in September, 19 percent for the third quarter and 17 percent for the year. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela were noted for the month, the quarter and year-to-date. Brazil was the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 28 percent of arrivals from the region in 2007. Central American arrivals were up 26 percent in September and 11 percent for the year.
• Travel from Oceania increased 10 percent in September and nine percent for the year. Australia increased nine percent in September, ten percent for the year and accounted for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in 2007.
• Visitation from the Caribbean was up almost one percent in September and 11 percent for the year. Over 90 percent of arrivals were by air, which were down one percent for the month. Arrivals from the Dominican Republic were up 18 percent in September. Middle Eastern arrivals were up nine percent in September while African visitation increased by five percent. Middle Eastern and African arrivals were up 13 percent and nine percent for the year.

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

Also to view the Quarterly Analysis regarding the top 20 origin markets please check here:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/documents/September_2007_YTD_Arrivals_Analysis.pdf

TOP PORTS September 2007 Year-to-Date

A brief analysis is presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2007.

Overseas arrivals (which excludes Canada and Mexico) were up 10 percent through September 2007. Arrivals through the top 15 ports-of-entry accounted for 83 percent of all overseas arrivals, about the same as the total arriving through these ports in the nine months of 2006.

Thirteen of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the nine months of 2007. Seven of these airports posted double-digit increases. New York maintained its lead in non-resident arrivals with a 15 percent increase. Arrivals through Newark were up 16 percent, moving it into 4th position, ahead of Honolulu, which dropped two percent compared to last year. Detroit moved into 12th position, ahead of Boston and Sanford.

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

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.

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 subscribe to 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