International Visitation to U.S. Up 22 Percent in April

For Immediate Release: July 20, 2006
Contact: Matt Braud (202) 482-3809

INTERNATIONAL VISITATION TO U.S. UP 22 PERCENT IN APRIL

Year-To-Date Visitation Up 6 Percent Over 2005

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 3.9 million international visitors traveled to the United States in April 2006, an increase of 22 percent over April 2005. The double-digit growth compensates for the March decline in arrivals, likely due to the seasonal shift in the Easter holiday period from March in 2005 to April in 2006. In addition, visitation to the United States for the first fourth months of 2006 is up 6 percent compared to 2005.

“It is encouraging to see a continued increase in visitation to the United States through April,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Ana Guevara. “The United States remains an attractive destination for foreign visitors, which is good news for the U.S. economy.”

Highlights of April 2006 International Arrivals to the United States

Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) increased 10 percent over April of 2005.
Canadian visitation grew 15 percent in April and is up 7 percent for the first four months of 2006 (year-to-date).
Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 131 percent compared to April 2005 and are up 32 percent for the first four months of 2006 compared to 2005.
Visitation from Western Europe increased 9 percent compared to April 2005, but is down 4 percent for the year. Arrivals from Eastern Europe continued to grow when compared to 2005, up 8 percent for April and for the first four months of 2006. Eastern Europe posted 32 consecutive months in arrivals growth.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up nearly 8 percent over April 2005, but are down 5 percent for the year. U.K. visitors accounted for 45 percent of all Western European arrivals year-to-date.
German arrivals jumped 23 percent over April 2005 and are up 1 percent year-to-date.
Visitation from Asia increased 1 percent in April and are up 2 percent year-to-date. Japanese arrivals declined 5 percent for the month and are down almost 2 percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 62 percent of all Asian visitors. Arrivals from South Korea, the People’s Republic of China/Hong Kong and India grew by double-digits in April.
Arrivals from South America increased 27 percent over April 2005 and are up 10 percent year-to-date. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela were noted for the month. Brazil is the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 30 percent of arrivals from the continent. Visitation from Central America and the Caribbean also grew double-digits.
Travel from Oceania increased 15 percent over April 2005 and is up 5 percent year-to-date. Australia registered a 19 percent increase in April and accounted for 81 percent of all arrivals from Oceania so far in 2006.
Arrivals from the Middle East and Africa increased by 3 and 9 percent, respectively, over April 2005.

To access the 2006 monthly arrivals data for world regions and top markets, visit http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2006-I-001/index.html.

# # #