TInews Archive #20020821.html

Date:	Mon, 12 August 2002
From:	TInews Announcement <announce@tinet.ita.doc.gov>
To:	TInews Announcement <tiannounce@tinet.ita.doc.gov>
Subject:	Recovery Signs Showing In International Markets

=== TINEWS ===================================

An information service from the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/
U.S. International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce

August 12, 2002

Recovery Signs Showing In International Markets

The U.S. Department of Commerce released preliminary 2002 international travel figures to the United States, despite overall declines, after the first quarter of 2002 six top international markets have reached a point of recovery from the September 11 attacks according to travel through the first quarter of 2002 continued to contract, however, the severity of the decline continues to diminish compared to the contractions recorded in the last four months of 2001.

The Official Commerce press release can be seen at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/august2002/tourism_080902.html

Commerce also developed a release specifically for the U.K. market at:
Commerce Announces Recovery in Visitors from the U.K. - August 9, 2002

The February 2002, international arrivals contracted 15 percent to register 2.4 million arrivals, compared to nearly 2.9 million arrivals in February 2001. March international arrivals contracted just 3 percent to register 3.5 million arrivals, compared to 3.6 million in March 2001. First quarter 2002 international arrivals were down 12 percent to register 8.3 million arrivals, compared to 9.5 million arrivals through first quarter 2001.

Recovery Watch B Six of the top twenty visitor markets have reached a point of recovery from the September 2001 attacks: Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. The rate of contraction is lower than before the September attacks for each of these top markets. Mexico and Spain are the only top markets to post positive growth in arrivals through the first quarter. The UK grew 6 percent in March 2002, yet remained down 2 percent for the first quarter compared to first quarter 2001. The other three markets continued to post a contraction for February and March 2002 and through the first quarter of 2002, however, at a slower rate of decline prior to September 2001.

To learn more about the extent of the declines in international travel to the U.S. and what markets have reached a point of recovery, please see OTTI's analysis of the preliminary first quarter arrivals. Go to OTTI's 2002 monthly arrivals tables and analysis at: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2002-I-001/index.html

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Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, International Trade Administration
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