Despite recent bleakness, international visits to The US are on the rise

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 43 million international visitors traveled to the United States during the first ten months of 2008, an increase of seven percent over the same period in 2007. In October 2008, total visitation was 4 million, down two percent when compared to October 2007.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 43 million international visitors traveled to the United States during the first ten months of 2008, an increase of seven percent over the same period in 2007. In October 2008, total visitation was 4 million, down two percent when compared to October 2007.

International visitors spent $120.3 billion from January through October 2008, an increase of 21 percent over the first ten months of 2007. In October 2008, visitors spent $11.9 billion, an increase of seven percent over October 2007.

Canadian visitation grew 10 percent over the same period in 2007 driven by both land arrivals and air arrivals each of which increased 10 percent. Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior2 U.S. points) decreased six percent during the first ten months of 2008. Land arrivals decreased six percent and air arrivals for the year were also down six percent. Overseas (excludes Canada and Mexico) arrivals increased one percent in October and eight percent year-to-date.

Visitation from overseas markets has grown for 18 consecutive months. Visitation from Western Europe was up six percent for October and 15 percent year-to-date, accounting for 48 percent of overseas arrivals. Arrivals from the United Kingdom were down five percent in October and up five percent year-to-date. Visitors from the United Kingdom accounted for 37 percent of all Western European arrivals. German arrivals increased 19 percent, French arrivals grew 28 percent, and Italian arrivals were up 27 percent, continuing growth trends from 2007. For the first ten months of 2008, visitation from the Netherlands grew 24 percent. At the same time, visitors from Spain and Ireland grew 33 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Arrivals from Sweden and Switzerland were up 20 percent and 18 percent, respectively, for the year.

Visitation from Asia decreased one percent year-to-date. Japanese arrivals decreased seven percent year-to-date. Japan accounts for 52 percent of all Asian visitors for the year. Year-to-date, arrivals from South Korea decreased three percent. India and PR China grew eight percent and 26 percent, respectively. Taiwanese visitation decreased four percent in the first ten months of 2008.

Arrivals from South America were up 13 percent year-to-date. Year-to-date, double-digit growth in visitation was observed from Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina. From South America, top arrivals were from Brazil, accounting for 30 percent of arrivals from the region. Visitation from the Caribbean area decreased nine percent year-to-date. Air arrivals from the Caribbean were also down nine percent for the year. During the first ten months of 2008, there was a 14 percent decrease in arrivals from the Dominican Republic, a seven percent decline from Jamaica, and a 33 percent drop from the Bahamas.

Travel from Oceania increased four percent year-to-date. Australia registered a five percent expansion year-to-date. Year-to-date, Australia accounted for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania. Central American arrivals for the first ten months of 2008 were flat when compared to year-to-date 2007.

Arrivals from the Middle East increased 11 percent year-to-date. For the first ten months of 2008, Israel’s visitation increased eight percent. Eastern European arrivals grew 15 percent year-to-date. Russian visitation increased 26 percent for the first ten months of 2008. African visitation was up 16 percent year-to-date.