International visitation grows for US
3.8 million international visitors traveled to the United States in June 2007, an increase of 12 percent over June 2006 accroding to new figures released by the
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Total visitation for the first six months of 2007 was up over eight percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent over $10.0 billion during the month, up 14 percent from June 2006 and $58.0 billion year-to-date, up 10 percent from the first six months in 2006.
Highlights of June 2007 International Arrivals[1] to the United States
- Canadian visitation grew nine percent over June 2006 with air arrivals up five percent and land arrivals up 10 percent. Year-to-date arrivals were up five percent.
- Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 25 percent in June 2007. This aggregate included air arrivals, which were up 11 percent while land arrivals increased by 31 percent in June 2007. Air arrivals year-to-date 2007 were up eight percent.
- Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were 12 percent over June 2006 (and seven percent over June 2005) and were up eight percent for 2007 compared to the first six months of 2006.
- Visitation from Western Europe was up 13 percent in June 2007, and eight percent year-to-date. Eastern European arrivals were up nine percent in June and 11 percent for the first six months of 2007, respectively.
Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up five percent in June bringing it to a two percent growth rate year-to-date. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 42 percent of all Western European arrivals.
- German, Italian and French arrivals were up18 percent, 23 percent and 32 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, 14 percent and 23 percent, respectively, in June.
- Visitation from Asia increased seven percent in June and was up three percent year-to-date. This was driven by arrivals from India and PR China, which jumped 46 percent and 24 percent, respectively for the month and were both up 50 percent and 24 percent for the year, respectively. Japanese arrivals were three percent below the June 2006 visitor level and were down six percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 55 percent of all Asian visitors so far for the year.
- Arrivals from South America were up 20 percent in June and 15 percent for the year. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela were noted for June and year-to-date. Brazil was the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 29 percent of arrivals from the region. Central American arrivals were up 20 percent in June and up eight percent for the year.
- Travel from Oceania increased seven percent in June with Australia registering an eight percent increase. Australia accounted for 81 percent of all arrivals from Oceania so far in 2007.
- Visitation from the Caribbean was up 13 percent in June and 11 percent for the year. Over 90 percent of arrivals were by air. Middle Eastern arrivals were up 13 percent in June while African visitation increased by ten percent. All three regions have posted double-digit increases in arrivals for the first six months of 2007.
Top Ports June 2007 Year-to-Date
Overseas arrivals (which excludes Canada and Mexico) were up eight percent through June 2007. Arrivals through the top 15 ports-of-entry accounted for 84 percent of all overseas arrivals, slightly more than in the total arriving through these ports in the first six months of 2006.
Thirteen of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the first six months of 2007. Six of these airports posted double-digit increases. New York maintained its lead in non-resident arrivals with a 14 percent increase. Arrivals through Newark were up 16 percent, moving it into 4th position, ahead of Honolulu, which dropped five percent from last year. Houston and Detroit moved into 12th and 13th positions, ahead of Boston.
[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.)
Theodore Koumelis
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Thursday, September 06, 2007