The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that international visitors spent an estimated $9.6 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of July-nearly 24% less than visitors spent during July 2008.

Travel Receipts: Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $7.5 billion for the month, a decrease of more than 23% when compared to last year. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel. Passenger Fare Receipts: Fares received by U.S. carriers (and U.S. vessel operators) from international visitors decreased more than 26% to $2.1 billion for the month, the lowest level in more than two years.

July 2009 marks the ninth straight month in which U.S. travel and tourism-related exports were lower when compared to the same period of the previous year, having declined in November 2008 (-4%), December 2008 (-2%), January 2009 (-6%), February 2009 (-10%), March 2009 (-18%), April 2009 (-14%), May 2009 (-23%), June 2009 (-22%), and July (-24%).

Monthly Travel and Tourism Highlights
- Year-to-date (January-July) U.S. travel and tourism-related exports totaled $69.2 billion, down nearly 17% ($13.9 billion) when compared to 2008.
- International visitors are not the only ones who have curtailed their spending; in fact, year-to-date U.S. travel and tourism-related imports-spending by Americans abroad- totaled $57.5 billion, down nearly 13% ($8.3 billion) when compared to last year.
- The U.S. travel and tourism industry has generated an $11.7 billion trade surplus (i.e., exports minus imports) year to date, nearly $5.7 billion less favorable than the same period last year.
- The recent downturn in U.S. travel and tourism exports, beginning in the closing months of 2008, interrupted more than sixty consecutive months of positive growth.