U.S. Arrivals to Europe Surpassed 12.6 Million in 2005

May 18, 2006

U.S. Arrivals to Europe Surpassed 12.6 Million in 2005
May 18, 2006 – The European Travel Commission announced that U.S. arrivals to Europe in 2005 surpassed 12.6 million, just four percentage points shy of the continent’s best year, 2000, when 13.1 million arrived.

"While Europe has always been America’s favorite overseas destination with 43 percent of overseas U.S. travelers, we are always finding and communicating new reasons to visit," said Conrad Van Tiggelen, ETC chairman in the U.S. and New York-based director of the Netherlands Tourism and Conventions Board.

Tourism in Europe, which attracted 415.2 million total arrivals, generates 262.3 billion euros, some 6.6 percent of EU exports. Europe’s share of global tourism is 54.4 percent, with six of the top 10 tourism destinations by arrivals: France, Spain, Italy, U.K., Germany and Austria. For more information, visit http://www.visiteurope.com/.