US summer travelers choosing Europe and vice versa
Americans are setting records for travel to Europe this summer, but at the same time, international tourists coming to the US are posting brisk numbers, according to recent reports.
The number of American visitors this year to Europe is expected to break the more than 13 million+ in 2000, which is the highest number ever, according to the European Travel Commission.
And European visits to the US are seeing double-digit growth.
“Visitation to the United States for the first four months for 2006 is up 6% compared to 2005,” said the US Department of Commerce.
The American trend may be particularly striking because it comes despite an unfavorable exchange rate and higher air fares.
Airlines are responding with more flights. Departures this summer are up about 7% over last year, said Back Aviation Solutions, an industry consulting firm.
Some airlines are also adding morning departures to traditional overnight flights to Europe.
US and foreign airlines are now offering a record 386 non-stop flights a day from the Continental US to Europe, according to a USA Today analysis.
Frankfurt, Germany; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Rome gained the most flights this summer.
It is US air suppliers and not foreign carriers who have contributed the most to overall trans-Atlantic growth, the analysis found. US made up two-thirds of the net flight increase.
In overseas visitors to the US, Mexican visitors are among the highest with a 131% increase this April compared to a year ago.
Visitation from Western Europe to the US increased 9% in April. Eastern European tourists were also on the upswing.
“Eastern Europe posted 32 consecutive months in arrivals growth,” said the Commerce Department.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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