Tourism Intelligence - Alan J Simpson, Washington, DC

Washington, DC March 11th, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a record 56.7 million international visitors traveled to the United States in 2007, an increase of 11 percent over 2006. This level also surpassed the 2000 record year of 51.2 million visitors. Ten of the top 25 arrival markets broke records set in previous years.

International visitors also spent a record-breaking $122.7 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States in 2007 - an increase of nearly 14 percent over the previous record set in 2006. The largest travel and tourism trade surplus was realized in nearly a decade, with international travelers outspending U.S. travelers abroad by $17.8 billion in 2007, 113 percent over 2006.

To see the official U.S. Department of Commerce press release on arrivals, go to: http://www.commerce.gov/

See the top news story. The Secretary’s remarks, a press release and a tourism fact sheet are all available on the main Commerce website page.

To access the full annual data reports, go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/inbound.general_information.inbound_overview.html

Once there, please view and print the PDF files for the new 2007 visitor and spending data.

Highlights of 2007 International Arrivals1 to the United States :
• Canadian visitation totaled 17.7 million, up 11 percent for the year. Air arrivals increased six percent from 2006.

• Arrivals from Mexico totaled a record 15.1 million, up 13 percent in 2007. Air arrivals were up 10 percent for the year.

• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totaled 23.9 million, up 10 percent for the year. Although arrivals are down eight percent from 2000, the last record year, they have increased 32 percent from 2003, the post 9/11 low in arrivals to the U.S. It is expected that overseas arrivals will exceed the 2000 record in 2009.

• Visitation from Western Europe, accounted for almost 46 percent of overseas arrivals, and was up 13 percent in 2007 with 10.9 million visitors. Travelers from the United Kingdom were up eight percent in 2007, to 4.5 million, representing 41 percent of all Western European visitors in 2007.

• The other top Western European countries grew by double digits in 2007, Germany, France and Italy, up 10 percent, 26 percent and 19 percent (a record for Italy), respectively, for the year. Arrivals from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Sweden grew 22 percent, 13 percent, 19 percent and 18 percent, respectively, in 2007. These were records for Spain, Ireland and Sweden.

• Eastern European arrivals were up 12 percent in 2007. Visitation from Russia accounted for 22 percent of arrivals from Eastern Europe and registered a 21 percent growth rate for 2007.

• Visitation from Asia increased four percent in 2007 and accounted for 27 percent of overseas arrivals. Growth was driven by record visitation from both India and the People’s Republic of China, which increased 39 percent and 24 percent, respectively for the year. Japanese arrivals were down four percent in 2007. Japan accounted for 55 percent of all Asian visitors in 2007 and is the only major market with a decline in visitation. South Korean and Taiwanese visitation grew by six percent and four percent, respectively, for 2007. This was a new record for South Korea.

• Arrivals from South America, accounting for almost 10 percent of overseas arrivals, were up 18 percent in 2007. Double-digit growth in visitation from Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina were experienced for the year. Brazil was the top traveler market for South America, accounting for 28 percent of arrivals from the region in 2007. Central American arrivals were up 13 percent for the year. Guatemalan visitation was up 16 percent for the month.

• Travel from Oceania increased 10 percent for the year. Australia increased 11 percent for the year, setting another new record, and accounting for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in 2007.

• Visitation from the Caribbean was up 10 percent for the year. Air arrivals accounted for 92 percent of the visitation. Visitation from the Dominican Republic set a new record with 11 percent growth, while visitors from the Bahamas were up five percent.

• Middle Eastern arrivals were up 12 percent in 2007. Israel accounted for 51 percent of arrivals from the Middle East and was up 10 percent for the year.

• The total arrivals from countries that require a visa again posted growth rates that exceed the 27 countries that have a visa waiver status. In 2007, Non-Visa Waiver countries posted a 14 percent increase over 2006, compared to the 8 percent growth rate for the 27 visa waiver arrival markets. Since the 2003, non-visa waiver countries have seen arrivals increase by 43 percent compared to the 27 percent increase in arrivals for the 27 visa waiver arrival markets between 2003 and 2007.

A brief analysis is presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2007.

Overseas arrivals (which exclude Canada and Mexico) were up 10 percent through December 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 for calendar year 2006.

Twelve of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals in 2007. Nine of the top airports posted double-digit increases. New York JFK maintained its lead in non-resident arrivals with a 16 percent increase, followed by Miami which also posted a 13 percent increase in arrivals. Newark’s overseas arrivals were up 16 percent, moving it into 4th position, ahead of Honolulu, which declined two percent compared to 2006. San Francisco moved into 6th position, ahead of Chicago ORD. Detroit, Houston’s IAH, and Orlando’s Sanford International airport all saw changes in their rankings as a top port between 2007 and 2006. To access top port activity, go to the following link and scroll down until you see the “Top Ports Year-to-Date at: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/index.html

Arrivals to the USA by port-of-entry are tracked on a monthly basis. The Department of Commerce has arrival data on more than 40 U.S. ports-of-entry from all world regions and 30 countries. Changes in the port-of-entry figures will have an impact of the destinations visited while within the U.S. Take a look at which airports posted the strongest growth and which ones saw declines in 2007 when compared to annual 2006 figures.

SOURCE:
The monthly Summary of International Travel to the U.S. report has approximately 30 tables that provide data on monthly and year-to-date arrivals to the country. The report provides data on approximately 90 countries each month and more than 40 ports of entry. Numerous breakouts are provided by world region and country for the port tables as well.

To find out more about this program, please go to: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/i94/index.html

If you would like to subscribe to the monthly international arrivals reports, please go to:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/reports/i94/index.html

1 (It is important to note that the U.S. Department of Commerce complies with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) standard definition and classification 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.)

International Visitation Up 17percent in November 2007
SPENDING AT $11.2 BILLION FOR THE MONTH

Washington, DC Feb 2008 ---The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 3.9 million international visitors traveled to the United States in November 2007, an increase of 17 percent over November 2006. Total visitation for the eleven months of 2007 was up 11 percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent $11.2 billion during the month, up 21 percent from November 2006 and $111.6 billion year-to-date, up 13 percent from the first eleven months in 2006.

• Canadian visitation was a “driver,” up 30 percent over November 2006 and 10 percent for the year. Air arrivals were up nine percent for the month and six percent year-to-date.

• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 10 percent in November 2007 and 16 percent for the year. Air arrivals were up nine percent for the month and 10 percent year-to-date.

• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 11 percent over November 2006 and up 10 percent for the year.

• Visitation from Western Europe, accounting for 47 percent of overseas arrivals, was up 14 percent in November 2007 and 12 percent year-to-date. Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up almost 11 percent in November and 7 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 also grew by double digits in November were Germany, France and Ireland, up 11 percent, 16 percent and 25 percent, respectively, for the month. Arrivals from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden grew 16 percent, 25 percent, 13 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in November. For the 11 months of 2007 a majority of these countries posted double-digit gains.

• Eastern European arrivals were up 17 percent in November and 11 percent for the eleven months of 2007. Visitation from Russia, which accounted for 24 percent of arrivals from Eastern Europe in November, was up by 15 percent.

• Visitation from Asia, accounting for 25 percent of overseas arrivals, increased one percent in November and four percent year-to-date. Growth was driven by visitation from India and the People’s Republic of China, which increased 21 percent and 15 percent, respectively for the month and grew by 42 percent and 24 percent, respectively, for the year. Japanese arrivals were down four percent in November 2007 and for the year. Japan accounted for 55 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 grew by two percent and eight percent, respectively, for the month, and was up seven percent and four percent year-to-date.

• Arrivals from South America, accounting for 10 percent of overseas arrivals, were up 26 percent in November and 18 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 18 percent in November and 13 percent for the year. Guatemalan visitation was up 24 percent for the month.

• Travel from Oceania increased 15 percent in November and 10 percent for the year. Australia increased 15 percent in November and 11 percent for the year accounting for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in 2007.

• Visitation from the Caribbean was down almost six percent in November but still up 10 percent for the year. Air arrivals accounting for 92 percent of all arrivals were down six percent for the month. Although visitation from the Dominican Republic was up three percent in November arrivals from the Bahamas dropped 56 percent. Middle Eastern arrivals were up 13 percent in November and 12 percent for the year. Israel accounted for 51 percent of arrivals from the Middle East and was up 11 percent for the year. African visitation increased by 12 percent in November and 10 percent for the year.

To access the 2007 monthly arrivals data tables for world regions and top markets, visit
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/index.html

International Visitation up 13 percent in September 2007 Spending $10.8 Billion for the month

Washington, DC December 19, 2007 ---- The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 4.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States in September 2007, an increase of 13 percent over September 2006. The third quarter was the strongest of the year, up 12 percent. Total visitation for the first nine months of 2007 was up 10 percent from the same period in 2006. International visitors also spent $10.8 billion during the month, up 19 percent from September 2006 and $89 billion year-to-date, up almost 12 percent from the first nine months in 2006.

• Canadian visitation was a “driver”, up 18 percent over September 2006. Air arrivals were up seven percent for the month. Overall arrivals were up eight percent and five percent for air year-to-date.

• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up 11 percent in September 2007 and 18 percent for the year. Air arrivals were up 11 percent for the month and 10 percent year-to-date.

• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 11 percent over September 2006. Third quarter showed the strongest growth in 2007, up12 percent, while the nine months of this year were up 10 percent.

• Visitation from Western Europe had grown 12 percent in September 2007 and was up 16 percent for the third quarter (Q3) and eleven percent year-to-date. Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up six percent in September and year-to-date. The third quarter posted the strongest growth, up 12 percent. 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 September were Germany, France and Italy, up 11 percent, 20 percent and 21 percent, respectively, for the month. Arrivals from the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Sweden grew 14 percent, 26 percent, 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively, in September. For the first nine months of 2007 all of these countries posted double-digit growth.

• Eastern European arrivals were up nine percent in September and 10 percent for the nine months of 2007. Although visitation from Poland, which accounts for almost 30 percent of arrivals from Eastern Europe, was flat for the month, other source markets, i.e., Russia, were up by double-digits.

• Visitation from Asia increased almost seven percent in September and six percent for the third quarter, the largest quarterly growth period this year. Arrivals from Asia were up four percent year-to-date. Growth was driven by visitation from India and PR China, which jumped 39 percent and 24 percent, respectively for the month and grew by 44 percent and 26 percent, respectively, for the year. Japanese arrivals were flat when compared to the September 2006 visitor level and were down four percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 54 percent of all Asian visitors so far this year. South Korean and Taiwanese visitation grew by two percent and 10 percent, respectively for the month and were up eight percent and four percent year-to-date.

• Arrivals from South America were up 26 percent in September, 19 percent for the third quarter and 17 percent for the year. Double-digit growth in visitation from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela were noted for the month, the quarter 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 26 percent in September and 11 percent for the year.

• Travel from Oceania increased 10 percent in September and nine percent for the year. Australia increased nine percent in September, ten percent for the year and accounted for 80 percent of all arrivals from Oceania in 2007.

• Visitation from the Caribbean was up almost one percent in September and 11 percent for the year. Over 90 percent of arrivals were by air, which were down one percent for the month. Arrivals from the Dominican Republic were up 18 percent in September. Middle Eastern arrivals were up nine percent in September while African visitation increased by five percent. Middle Eastern and African arrivals were up 13 percent and nine percent for the year.

Travel and Tourism is a $1.3 trillion industry in the United States
Travel and Tourism generates $100 billion in tax revenue for local, state, and federal governments
Each U.S. household would pay $898 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the Travel and Tourism Industry
The Travel and Tourism industry is one of the country's largest employers with 7.3 million direct travel-generated jobs
There is $162 billion direct travel-generated payroll and that one out of every eight U.S. non-farm jobs is directly and indirectly created by travel and tourism.
International travelers spent $94 billion in the U.S. in 2004
Shopping is the most popular domestic trip activity, and is included in 30 percent of all domestic trips. In total, that's 342 million trips with shopping sprees.
Approximately 2.6 million hotels rooms are sold everyday in the United States.
80 percent of adult travelers (over 118 million people) have included an historic or cultural activity while traveling.
Spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. averaged $1.6 billion a day, $68 million an hour, $1.1 million a minute, and $19,000 a second.
The travel and tourism industry is one of America's largest service exports with $94 billion spent by international visitors in the U.S. and 88 billion spent outside the U.S. by domestic travelers creates $6 billion in balance of trade surplus for the U.S.
Americans plan to take 328 million leisure trips during June, July, and August—up 2.3 percent over summer 2004
Just a 1 percent increase in U.S. worldwide market share would equal a 7.6 million increase in visitors, a $12.3 billion increase in expenditures, 151,000 new jobs, a $3.3 billion increase in payroll, and $2.1 billion more in federal, state and local tax revenue

LTN has been taking careful note of the Baby Boomers about to retire and how that will affect the Leisure industry:

The world's No 1 industry is braced for a potential bonanza, or debilitating oversupply and the key is the retiring Baby Boomer, 79,000,000 in the USA alone, with $53 Trillion of investment capital in their hands. Well that is what is supposed to happen!

The collapsing US Dollar makes visiting the United States a bargain, and the promotion of tourism should be in high gear, especially in Washington, DC. There has been massive investment in leisure properties, especially in areas such as Florida, but with the mortgage crunch many of these are at high risk.

Many people are living their dreams and retiring to run restaurants, cafe's, and guest houses. The downturn in the economy could crash their dreams, or make them if they bought at the right time. With such huge investments in the balance Tourism and Leisure Intelligence has become a new frontier of the fusion of serious analysis, and the pleasures of leisure and tourism. It is now big business, but with many niches for small businesses and even individuals.

The Simpson Report examines the political forces at work, as well as the global picture for tourism in general. We now have a more diverse range of programs for tourism, entertainment, energy and geopolitics that together define the quality of life, and profitability of investments for billions in the years ahead. But without understanding that Competitive Advantage the money to support and sustain the retirement of Americans will not be available. Washington DC needs to show effective leadership!