The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 4.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States in October 2007, an increase of 15 percent over October 2006. Total visitation for the ten months of 2007 was up 10 percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent $11.1 billion during the month, up 21 percent from October 2006 and $100.4 billion year-to-date, up 13 percent from the first ten months in 2006…
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 4.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States in October 2007, an increase of 15 percent over October 2006. Total visitation for the ten months of 2007 was up 10 percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent $11.1 billion during the month, up 21 percent from October 2006 and $100.4 billion year-to-date, up 13 percent from the first ten months in 2006.
Highlights of October 2007 International Arrivals1 to the United States
Canadian visitation was up 18 percent over October 2006 and nine percent for the year. Air arrivals were up seven percent for the month and six percent year-to-date.
Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 13 percent in October 2007 and 17 percent for the year. Air arrivals were up 14 percent for the month and 10 percent year-to-date.
Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 14 percent over October 2006 and up 10 percent for the year.
Visitation from Western Europe was a “driver” growing 18 percent in October 2007 and up 12 percent year-to-date. Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up 15 percent in October and seven year-to-date. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for 41 percent of all Western European arrivals this year.
The other top Western European countries that had grown by double digits in October were Germany, France and Italy, up 13 percent, 22 percent and 19 percent, respectively, for the month. Arrivals from Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden grew 40 percent, 17 percent, 24 percent and 22 percent, respectively, in October. For the ten months of 2007 all of these countries posted double-digit growth.
Eastern European arrivals were up 14 percent in October and 10 percent for the ten months of 2007. Visitation from Russia, which accounted for 25 percent of arrivals from Eastern Europe in October, was up by 20 percent.
Visitation from Asia increased two percent in October and four percent year-to-date. Growth was driven by visitation from India and the Peoples Republic of China, which jumped 33 percent and 16 percent, respectively for the month and grew by 43 percent and 25 percent, respectively, for the year. Japanese arrivals were down five percent in October 2007 and down four percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 57 percent of all Asian visitors so far in 2007 and is the only major market this year with a decline in traffic. South Korean and Taiwanese visitation each grew by three percent for the month and were up seven percent and four percent year-to-date.
Arrivals from South America were up 23 percent in October and 17 percent for the year. Double-digit growth in visitation from Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina were noted for the month and year-to-date. Brazil was the top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 28 percent of arrivals from the region in 2007. Central American arrivals were up 24 percent in October and 13 percent for the year. Guatemalan visitation was up 32 percent.
Travel from Oceania increased 16 percent in October and 10 percent for the year. Australia increased 15 percent in October and 11 percent for the year accounting for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in 2007.
Visitation from the Caribbean was up 20 percent in October and 11 percent for the year. Air arrivals accounted for 94 percent of all arrivals and were up 22 percent for the month. Visitation from the Bahamas was up 36 percent in October. Middle Eastern arrivals were up five percent in October while African visitation increased by 13 percent.
Middle Eastern and African arrivals were up 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively, for the year. Israel accounted for 50 percent of arrivals from the Middle East and was up 11 percent for the year.
TOP PORTS October 2007 Year-to-Date
Overseas arrivals (which excludes Canada and Mexico) were up 11 percent through October 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 ten months of 2006.
Twelve of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the ten months of 2007. Eight of the top airports posted double-digit increases. New York maintained its lead in non-resident arrivals with a 16 percent increase.
Arrivals through Newark were up 16 percent, moving it into 4th position, ahead of Honolulu, which dropped two percent compared to last year. Boston and Detroit moved into 12th and 13th positions, ahead of Sanford.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
