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

June 21, 2007

INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP 13 PERCENT IN MARCH 2007
Year-To-Date Arrivals Nine Percent Above Last Year

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 3.9 million international visitors traveled to the United States in March 2007, an increase of 13 percent over March 2006.  Total visitation in the first quarter 2007 was up 9 percent from the first quarter 2006.  International visitors also spent $9.6 billion during the month, up 11 percent over March 2006.

March data may have benefited slightly from the positioning of the Easter holidays this year, April 8, 2007 vs. April 16, 2006. In other words, some early holiday inbound traffic may have moved in latter March this year. Nonetheless, March 2007 arrivals were four percent above March 2005 during which Easter occurred.

Highlights of March 2007 International Arrivals to the United States

(It is important to note that 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.)

• Canadian visitation grew five percent over March 2006 driven by land arrivals, which were up six percent while air arrivals were up three percent. First quarter arrivals were also up five percent.
• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 40 percent in March 2007. This aggregate included air arrivals, which were up 22 percent. Land arrivals jumped 49 percent in March 2007. Air arrivals year-to-date 2007 are up nine percent.        
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) increased 14 percent over March of 2006 and are up eight percent in the first quarter.  Overseas markets have grown for 6 consecutive months.
• Visitation from Western Europe was up 18 percent in March 2007 and 10 percent in the first quarter. Eastern European arrivals, up 12 percent, continued double-digit growth from late 2006.
• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up 10 percent in March bringing its first quarter increase to three percent. The increase posted in March was the first increase since April 2006. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 43 percent of all Western European arrivals.
• German, French and Italian arrivals were up 20 percent, 35 percent and 11 percent, respectively, for the month, continuing a growth trend from late 2006. German, French and Italian visits are up double-digit so far this year. Irish and Spanish arrivals jumped 44 and 42 percent, respectively, in March.
• Visitation from Asia increased almost three percent in March and is up two percent in the first quarter. Japanese arrivals were five percent below the March 2006 visitor level, accounting for 59 percent of all Asian visitors for the year. Arrivals from South Korea, India, PR China and Hong Kong grew in March, up six percent, 46 percent, 27 percent and 11 percent, respectively. All grew by double-digits for the first quarter of 2007.
• Arrivals from South America were up 26 percent in March. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela were noted for March and the first quarter. Brazil is the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 30 percent of arrivals from the region. Central American arrivals increased 12 percent in March and 6 percent for the first quarter.
• Travel from Oceania increased 15 percent in March with Australia registering a 16 percent increase. Australia accounted for 83.5 percent of all arrivals from Oceania so far in 2007.
• Visitation from the Caribbean was up 19 percent, overall, in March with air arrivals up 18 percent. Arrivals from the Middle East and Africa increased by 28 percent and 18 percent, respectively, during March. All three regions have posted double-digit increases in arrivals for the first quarter of 2007.

To access the 2007 monthly arrivals data for world regions and top markets, visit
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/index.html

The following is a summary of top port arrival activity for March 2007 year-to-date.

TOP PORTS   March 2007 Year-to-Date

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. A brief analysis is presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2007.

Overseas arrivals (which excludes Canada and Mexico) were up 8 percent through March 2007. Arrivals through the top 15 ports-of-entry accounted for 86 percent of all overseas arrivals and were down over one percentage-point from the top 15 in 2006. This indicates increased use of secondary ports.

Eleven of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the first three months of 2007. New York posted a 14 percent increase in arrivals keeping ahead of Miami, which increased 10 percent. Arrivals through Newark were up 22 percent moving it into 5th position, ahead of Agana, Guam, which dropped two percent from last year.

To access top port activity, go to:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/top_ports.html

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 purchase the monthly international arrivals reports, please go to:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/reports/i94/index.html

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