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Bookings Up for 1st Quarter 2010 for the Top Five U.S. Travel Export Markets

August 16, 2010

CANADA Travel Trade Barometer: First Quarter 2010 Registered Double Digit Growth

  • First quarter 2010 bookings exploded after a flat fourth quarter 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Canada Travel Trade Barometer. Canada tour operators reported (as of May 14 – June 25, 2010) that bookings for first quarter 2010 increased 10 to 15 percent, on average, compared to first quarter 2009. More than nine out of ten respondents reported positive bookings.
  • Nearly all (93%) tour operators projected an increase in bookings for second quarter 2010, compared with the same period last year. Summer bookings were also projected to increase over last year. Just over seven in ten respondents projected higher bookings
  • For the second survey in a row, the exchange rate was listed as the top motivator for travel in the next six months. This was followed by the level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses, accommodation rates and the economy in Canada. The collection of travelers personal information and enhanced security measures ranked as the top two deterrents for travel to the United States in the next six months

 

JAPAN Travel Trade Barometer: First Quarter 2010 Bookings a Welcome Turn Around

  • Japan tour operators reported in the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Japan Travel Trade Barometer (as of May 24 – June 24, 2010) that bookings for first quarter 2010 increased one to three percent, on average, compared to first quarter 2009. Also, nearly all of the respondents projected an increase in bookings for second quarter 2010.
  • Eight in ten top Japanese travel trade projected summer bookings from Japan to the United States to be higher, on average, compared to summer 2009.
  • The top motivator listed for travel from Japan to the United States in the next six months was the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar. Deregulation of charter flights and the level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses rounded out the top three. Once again, the top deterrent was airfare and fuel charges.

 

UNITED KINGDOM Travel Trade Barometer: 2010 Starts on a Strong Note

  • United Kingdom tour operators reported in the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored United Kingdom Travel Trade Barometer (as of May 25 – June 25, 2010) that bookings for the first quarter 2010 increased four to nine percent, on average, compared to first quarter 2009.
  • Second quarter 2010 bookings were projected to be about the same, on average, compared to second quarter 2009. However, the majority (58 percent) of the travel trade projected bookings would be higher, on average, compared to the same time last year. Summer bookings from the United Kingdom to the United States are projected to be higher by nearly three quarters (74%) of the respondents.
  • Only two factors were listed to be a motivator, on average, for bookings in the next six months. Accommodation rates ranked as the top motivator followed by the level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses. In contrast, 10 factors were listed as a deterrent to bookings to the United States in the next six months. For the second survey in a row, the top deterrent, on average, was the level of promotion by other long-haul destinations

 

MEXICO Travel Trade Barometer: Solid Growth in the First Quarter 2010

  • According to the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Mexico Travel Trade Barometer, Mexico tour operators reported (as of May 26 – June 25, 2010) that in the first quarter 2010 that bookings from Mexico to the United States increased 10 to 15 percent, on average, compared to the first quarter 2009.
  • All of the trade projected bookings to be higher in the second quarter 2009, with summer bookings to the United States projected to be higher by nearly nine in ten (89%) respondents.
  • In the next six months, accommodation rates continued to be listed as the top motivator for travel to the United States. In this survey session, enhanced security, visa processing, and entry and exit requirements rounded out the top three deterrents to travel to the United States.

 

GERMANY Travel Trade Barometer: Positive Growth through the Summer 2010

  • According to the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Germany Travel Trade Barometer, Germany tour operators reported (as of May 3 – June 11, 2010) that bookings to the United States in the first quarter of 2010 increased one to three percent, on average, compared to 2009 first quarter bookings.
  • On average, bookings in the second quarter of 2010 were projected to be higher. Bookings from Germany to the United States were projected to continue to increase through the summer
  • The level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses was the only motivator listed for bookings in the next six months. The top rated deterrent for this survey session was natural disasters, reflecting early concerns for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

BACKGROUD AND SOURCE:

Travel Market Insights (http://www.travelmi.com/) conducts the Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Mexico and Germany Travel Trade Barometer programs.  The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, is a sponsor and was the initial developer of the barometer program. The Barometer program is conducted with support from the U.S. Commercial Service and various Visit USA Committees and additional sponsors.

Travel Market Insights conducts the Japan Travel Trade Barometer in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, Sloan Travel and Tourism Industry Center/University of South Carolina and the National Tour Association.  The Japan Travel Trade Barometer program is also conducted in partnership with Japan Tourism Marketing and the Japan Visit USA Committee.

The Travel Trade Barometer survey is conducted on a quarterly basis in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Germany and is available through subscription.  Reports sent to subscribers include additional information, such as:

  • Bookings – looking at the past quarter and the next two quarters for U.S. and competitive regional destinations;
  • Short term bookings for more than five specific travel segments; and
  • Over 15 motivators or deterrents for travel to the United States.

Specific (proprietary) destination data is also available through a subscription.

For more information on the Travel Barometer Program, please visit http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/barometer/index.html

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