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Shopping Report Executive Summary

Shopping & Tourism Report Order Form (PDF)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRIES

2003 Profile of Overseas Travelers to the U.S. who are
Defined as Shoppers or Cultural Shoppers
Reported from: Survey of International Air Travelers

 

OVERSEAS TRAVELERS
CHARACTERISTICS:
All Overseas
Shoppers
All Overseas
Cultural Shoppers
 
 
Total Number of Travelers
15,683,000
5,285,000
 
 
 
Advance Trip Decision:
Average Number of Days
74.6
90.4
 
Median Number of Days
40.0
60.0
 
 
Advance Airline Reservation:
Average Number of Days
50.0
59.7
 
Median Number of Days
30.0
30.0
 
 
Means of Booking Air Trip:
Travel Agent
56%
57%
 
Airlines Directly
15%
15%
 
Personal Computer/Internet
10%
14%
 
Company Travel Dept.
8%
5%
 
Tour Operator
8%
6%
 
 
Information Sources*:
Travel Agent
50%
50%
 
Personal Computer
30%
36%
 
Airlines
19%
19%
 
Friends, Relatives
17%
22%
 
Tour Operator/Company
10%
8%
 
Travel Guides/Timetables
10%
12%
 
Corporate Travel Dept.
7%
5%
 
Newspapers/Magazines
5%
6%
 
State/City Travel Office
4%
6%
 
 
Use of Pre-Paid Package:
Yes
20%
17%
 
No (Independent)
80%
83%
 
 
If Package Used, Type of Package*:
Air/Lodging
15%
13%
 
Air/Rental Car
5%
4%
 
Guided Tour
5%
6%
 
Air/Lodging/Rental Car
3%
3%
 
Air/Lodging/Bus
3%
3%
 
 
Use of Prepaid Lodging as Part of Package
Yes
83%
82%
 
No
17%
18%
 
Mean # of Nights
7.6
9.6
 
Median # of Nights
5.0
6.0
 
 
Advance Package Booking:
Mean # of Days
73.0
82.3
 
Median # of Days
40.0
56.0
 
 
If Pre-Booked Lodging,
Pre-Booked Through*:
Travel Agent
26%
24%
 
Hotel/Motel Directly
9%
10%
 
Company Travel Dept.
7%
5%
 
Tour Operator
7%
6%
 
Friend/Relative
5%
6%
 
Business Associate
3%
2%
 
 
Travel Companions*:
Traveling Alone
35%
33%
 
Spouse
31%
35%
 
Family/Relatives
30%
29%
 
Friends
14%
14%
 
Business Associates
6%
3%
 
Tour Group
2%
2%
 
 
Travel Party Size: (persons)
Adults Only
91%
91%
 
Adults and Children
9%
9%
 
Average Party Size
1.6
1.6
 
Median Party Size
1.0
1.0
 
 
Main Purpose of Trip:
Leisure/Recreation/Holiday
49%
53%
 
Visit Friends/Relatives
24%
27%
 
Business/Professional
19%
11%
 
Convention/Conference
5%
4%
 
Study/Teaching
2%
4%
 
 
Purpose of Trip*:
Leisure/Recreation/Holiday
67%
76%
 
Visit Friends/Relatives
39%
46%
 
Business
23%
16%
 
Convention/Conference
8%
6%
 
Study/Teaching
4%
7%
 
 
Type of Accommodations*:
Hotel, Motel
78%
76%
 
  Average Number of Nights
7.6
8.7
 
  Median Number of Nights
5.0
6.0
 
 
Private Home
37%
45%
 
  Average Number of Nights
18.4
20.4
 
  Median Number of Nights
10.0
12.0
 
 
Other
3%
5%
 
  Mean Number of Nights
16.9
21.2
 
  Median Number of Nights
6.0
7.0
 
 
Nights Spent in the U.S.
Average
15.8
21.3
 
Median
8.0
12.0
 
 
First International U.S. Trip:
First Time Visitors
22%
27%
 
Repeat Visitors
78%
73%
 
 
U.S. Trips in Last 12 Months:
Mean # of Trips
1.9
1.6
 
Median # of trips
1.0
1.0
 
 
U.S. Trips in Last 5 Years:
Mean # of Trips
6.3
4.7
 
Median # of trips
3.0
3.0
 
 
Number of States Visited*:
One State
70%
56%
 
Two States
18%
23%
 
Three or More States
12%
21%
 
Average (Number of States)
1.5
1.8
 
Median (Number of States)
1.0
1.0
 
 
Number of Destinations Visited:
Average (Number of Destinations)
2.0
2.5
 
Median (Number of Destinations)
1.0
2.0
 
 
Transportation in the U.S.*:
Taxi
40%
41%
 
Rented Auto
32%
30%
 
Company or Private Auto
30%
33%
 
Airline in the U.S.
25%
31%
 
City Subway/Bus
22%
31%
 
Bus between Cities
11%
15%
 
Railroad between Cities
9%
14%
 
 
Port-of-Entry:
New York
14%
20%
 
Miami
12%
8%
 
Los Angeles
10%
12%
 
Honolulu
10%
6%
 
Chicago
6%
6%
 
San Francisco
6%
7%
 
Agana, Guam
5%
2%
 
Newark
5%
7%
 
Atlanta
3%
3%
 
Washington Dulles
3%
4%
 
Orlando & Orlando/Sanford
3%
1%
 
Boston
2%
2%
 
 
U.S. Destinations Visited*:
 
New England
6%
9%
 
  Massachusetts
5%
7%
 
    Boston
4%
6%
 
 
Middle Atlantic
26%
39%
 
  New York
23%
35%
 
    New York City
22%
34%
 
  New Jersey
4%
4%
 
  Pennsylvania
4%
5%
 
    Philadelphia
2%
3%
 
 
East North Central
8%
8%
 
  Illinois
4%
5%
 
    Chicago
4%
4%
 
  Michigan
2%
2%
 
  Ohio
2%
2%
 
 
West North Central
2%
2%
 
 
South Atlantic
32%
27%
 
  Florida
23%
15%
 
    Miami
11%
7%
 
    Orlando
11%
6%
 
    Ft. Lauderdale
2%
1%
 
   

Tampa/St. Petersburg

2%
2%
 
    Florida Keys
2%
2%
 
  Washington D.C. (Metro Area)
5%
9%
 
 

Georgia

2%
2%
 
   

Atlanta

2%
2%
 
 
East South Central
2%
2%
 
 
West South Central
5%
7%
 
  Texas
4%
5%
 
    Houston
2%
2%
 
    Dallas/Ft. Worth
2%
2%
 
 
Mountain
12%
18%
 
 

Nevada

8%
13%
 
    Las Vegas
8%
12%
 
    Arizona
3%
6%
 
 
Pacific
24%
30%
 
  California
22%
28%
 
    Los Angeles
12%
16%
 
    San Francisco
10%
14%
 
    San Diego
2%
3%
 
    San Jose
2%
2%
 
    Anaheim
2%
1%
 
  Washington
2%
3%
 
    Seattle
2%
2%
 
 
Pacific Islands
18%
12%
 
  Hawaiian Islands
13%
10%
 
    Oahu/Honolulu
11%
8%
 
  Guam
5%
2%
 
 
Atlantic Islands
0%
1%
 
 
The market share figures reported for the Census Regions, states or cities is from table 24 from the 2003 annual In-Flight Survey report on Overseas Shoppers & Cultural Shoppers to the U.S. Only destinations or regions with a 1.5% market share or greater are reported in this profile.
 
Leisure/Recreational Activities*:
Shopping
100%
100%
 
Dining in Restaurants
88%
93%
 
Sightseeing in Cities
43%
66%
 
Visit Historical Places
33%
73%
 
Amusement/Theme Parks
30%
37%
 
Visit Small Towns/Villages
28%
46%
 
Water Sports/Sunbathing
27%
30%
 
Touring the Countryside
23%
41%
 
Cultural/Heritage Sights
19%
56%
 
Art Gallery, Museum
19%
47%
 
Visit National Parks
19%
44%
 
Guided Tours
17%
27%
 
Concert, Play, Musical
15%
33%
 
Nightclub/ Dancing
14%
19%
 
Casinos/Gambling
11%
18%
 
Golf/Tennis
8%
8%
 
Cruises
7%
9%
 
Attend Sports Events
6%
10%
 
Ethnic Heritage Sights
5%
15%
 
Camping, Hiking
4%
9%
 
Environmental/Ecological Excursions
4%
8%
 
Visit American Indian Communities
3%
8%
 
Hunting/Fishing
2%
3%
 
Snow Skiing
2%
3%
 
Ranch Vacations
2%
2%
 
 
Average Total Trip Expenditures:
Per Travel Party
$4,471
$4,763
 
Per Visitor
$2,762
$2,898
 
 
Average International Airfare
Per Travel Party
$1,845
$1,725
 
Per Visitor
$1,223
$1,100
 
 
Average Package Price
Per Travel Party
$2,960
$3,663
 
Per Visitor
$1,261
$1,655
 
 
Average Expenditures in the U.S.:
Per Travel Party
$2,449
$2,728
 
Per Visitor
$1,513
$1,660
 
Per Visitor Per Day
$96
$78
 
 
Avg. Exp. by Category (per visitor):
Lodging
$370 (26%)
$393 (38%)
 
Gifts & Souvenirs
$348 (21%)
$347 (15%)
 
Food, Beverages
$291 (20%)
$340 (17%)
 
Transportation
$206 (14%)
$245 (17%)
 
Entertainment
$157 (10%)
$202 ( 6%)
 
Other
$115 ( 7%)
$107 ( 6%)
 
U.S. Airport
$26 ( 2%)
$25 ( 2%)
 
 
Trip Expenses Payment Method:
Credit Cards
46%
45%
 
Cash
44%
43%
 
Travelers Checks
7%
8%
 
Debit Cards
4%
4%
 
 
Main factors involved in Airline
Choice:
Airfare
35%
39%
 
Convenient Schedule
15%
14%
 
Mileage Bonus/Freq. Flyer program
12%
10%
 
Non-Stop Flight
9%
9%
 
Previous Good Experience
7%
8%
 
Safety Reputation
7%
6%
 
Loyalty to Carrier
4%
3%
 
Employer Policy
3%
2%
 
In-Flight Service Reputation
2%
1%
 
 
Type of Airline Ticket:
Economy/Tourist/Coach
76%
81%
 
Executive/Business
12%
8%
 
Frequent Flyer Award
4%
4%
 
Discount/Group Fare
4%
3%
 
Frequent Flyer Upgrade
2%
2%
 
First Class
2%
1%
 
Non-Revenue Passenger
2%
1%
 
Don't Know
3%
3%
 
 
Seating Area:
Economy/Tourist/Coach
81%
86%
 
Executive/Business
15%
12%
 
First Class
3%
2%
 
 
Sex & Age of Traveler:
Male Adults
57%
54%
 
Female Adults
43%
46%
 
 
Average Age of Male (years)
42.7
42.8
 
 
Average Age of Female (years)
38.3
39.0
 
 
Occupation:
Professional/Technical
33%
35%
 
Manager/Executive
29%
25%
 
Clerical/Sales
10%
7%
 
Student
8%
11%
 
Retired
7%
8%
 
Homemaker/Housewife
6%
5%
 
Craftsman/Factory Worker
3%
2%
 
Government/Military
3%
4%
 
 
Annual Household Income:
Average
$81,900
$79,700
 
Median
$68,800
$65,900
 
 
All percentages listed in this profile can be converted into estimated numbers by multiplying the percentage by 15,683,000 (total overseas shoppers to the U.S.), or 5,285,000 (total cultural shoppers)
 
Shoppers are defined as the respondents who listed shopping as a leisure activity. Multiple activity participation is allowed. Cultural shoppers are defined as respondents who listed shopping and any of the following other leisure activities. Included are visiting: American Indian Community sites, Art gallery/Museum, Concert/Play/Musical, Cultural Heritage Site, Ethnic Heritage Site, Historical Place, or a National Park.
 
n.a. = not available
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
Released: December 2004

Shopping Report Executive Summary

Shopping & Tourism Report Order Form (PDF)

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