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

June 29, 2009

U.S. Travel Abroad Declined in 2008

However, Fifth Straight Year of Record Spending Abroad

The U.S. resident outbound market, totaling 63.6 million travelers, declined by one percent in 2008 compared to annual 2007 figures, the first decline since 2002. Travel to Mexico grew by four percent whereas travel to overseas and Canada declined by one percent and seven percent, respectively.

Spending by U.S. residents traveling abroad (imports) in 2008, however, set a record for the fifth successive year at $112.3 billion, up seven percent from 2007. Spending by U.S. travelers within foreign countries (travel payments) totaled $79.7 billion and spending on air transportation, via foreign air carriers (passenger fare payments), totaled $32.6 billion in 2008.

The top five countries where U.S. spent their 2008 travel dollars were: Mexico ($11.1 billion), United Kingdom ($10.5 billion), Canada ($7.3 billion), Germany ($6.3 billion) and Japan ($5.2 billion).

U.S. travelers set records for 2008 travel spending in: Germany, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Netherlands and Argentina.

U.S. International Travelers

For U.S. outbound tables, trend lines, profiles and analysis, please click on this link
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/outbound.general_information.outbound_overview.html

U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration/MAS/Services
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 1003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone:(202) 482-0140
Fax: (202) 482-2887
Website: www.tinet.ita.doc.gov
Email: Tinet_info@ita.doc.gov