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

November 20, 2007

INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP 15 PERCENT IN AUGUST 2007
SPENDING EXCEEDED $10 BILLION FOR THE MONTH

Year-To-Date Arrivals 9 Percent Above Last Year

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 5.3 million international visitors traveled to the United States in August 2007, an increase of 15 percent over August 2006. Total visitation for the first eight months of 2007 was up over nine percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent $10.3 billion during the month, up 14.2 percent from August 2006 and $78.2 billion year-to-date, up 10.3 percent from the first eight months in 2006.

Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez also announced that the summer of 2007 was a record-breaking season for international travel to the United States. See press release…http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_004794 and Fact Sheet http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_004795.pdf.

Highlights of August 2007 International Arrivals¹ to the United States

• Canadian visitation grew 13 percent over August 2006. Air arrivals were up eight percent for the month. Year-to-date arrivals were up seven percent and five percent for air.
• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 17 percent in August 2007 and 18 percent for the year. This aggregate included air arrivals, up 14 percent while land arrivals increased by 18 percent in August 2007. Air arrivals year-to-date 2007 were up nine percent.
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were 16 percent over August 2006 and were up nine percent for the first eight months of 2006.
• Visitation from Western Europe was a “driver” up 23 percent in August 2007, and eleven percent year-to-date. Eastern European arrivals were up 13 percent in August and 10 percent for the first eight months of 2007.
• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up 22 percent in August bringing it to a five percent growth rate year-to-date. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 41 percent of all Western European arrivals.
• German, Italian and French arrivals were up nine percent, 29 percent and 40 percent, respectively, for the month. For Italians, this continues a double-digit growth trend from late 2006. Arrivals from the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain grew 19 percent, 28 percent and 32 percent, respectively, in August. All three countries were up double-digits for 2006.
• Visitation from Asia increased six percent in August and was up four percent year-to-date. Growth was driven by arrivals from India and PR China, which jumped 28 percent and 36 percent, respectively for the month and up 45 percent and 26 percent, respectively for the year. Japanese arrivals were one percent below the August 2006 visitor level and were down five percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 54 percent of all Asian visitors so far this year. South Korean visitation grew by 11 percent and arrivals from Taiwan declined one percent.
• Arrivals from South America were up 16 percent in August and 15 percent for the year. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela were noted for August and year-to-date. Brazil was the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 28 percent of arrivals from the region in 2006. Central American arrivals were up 17 percent in August and ten percent for the year.
• Travel from Oceania increased 14 percent in August and nine percent for the year. Australia increased 17 percent in August and ten percent for the year and accounted for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in 2007.
• Visitation from the Caribbean was up 21 percent in August and 12 percent for the year. Over 90 percent of arrivals were by air, which were up 11 percent for the year. Arrivals from the Bahamas were up 56 percent in August. Middle Eastern arrivals were up 18 percent in August while African visitation increased by eight percent. Africa and the Middle East posted double-digit increases in arrivals for the first eight months of 2007.

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

TOP PORTS August 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 nine percent through August 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 first eight months of 2006.

Twelve of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the first eight 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 three percent from last year. Detroit and Houston moved into 12th and 13th positions, ahead of Sanford and Boston.  

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