For Immediate Release: February 15, 2007
Contact: Matt Braud (202) 482-3809
U.S. TRAVEL AND TOURISM EXPORTS REBOUND FROM 9/11 DECLINE
International Visitors Spent More in 2006 Than Ever Before
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced this week a record $107.4 billion in international travel receipts – which is travel-related tourism spending, including passenger fares – for the United States in 2006. This spending represents a full recovery in export value since Sept. 11, 2001, and surpasses the previous record of $103.1 billion set in 2000.
“We have seen full recovery in spending by visitors to the United States since September 11, surpassing the record mark set the previous year,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Ana Guevara. “This is good news for the U.S. travel and tourism industry, which employed 8.3 million Americans last year.”
Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors totaled $85.8 billion for the year, an increase of 5 percent over 2005. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to international travel.
Passenger fares received by U.S. carriers and U.S. vessel operators from international visitors increased more than 3 percent over 2005 receipts to $21.6 billion for the year.
2006 U.S. Travel and Tourism Industry Highlights
- Travel and tourism exports accounted for 7 percent of all U.S. exports and 26 percent of services exports.
- For the eighteenth consecutive year, the United States enjoyed a travel trade surplus, reaching $7.3 billion in 2006.
- Travel and tourism supported 8.3 million American jobs in 2006, of which 1.1 million were supported by travel and tourism exports.
- More people are employed by travel and tourism-related industries than are employed in the construction industry, the business and financial industries, agriculture, education, or healthcare.
For a decade of U.S. travel and tourism industry export data (1996-2006), please visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/
inbound.total_intl_travel_spending_1996-2006.html
The U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. For more information relating to OTTI programs please visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov
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