Create or retrieve your password by clicking here

U.S. Reports Record International Visitor Spending

February 16, 2007

U.S. Reports Record International Visitor Spending
Feb. 16, 2007 –The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a record $107.4 billion in international travel receipts for the United States in 2006. This includes travel-related tourism spending, such as passenger fares, and represents a full recovery in export value since Sept. 11.

"We have seen full recovery in spending by visitors to the United States since September 11, surpassing the record mark set the previous year," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Ana Guevara. "This is good news for the U.S. travel and tourism industry, which employed 8.3 million Americans last year."

Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors totaled $85.8 billion for the year, an increase of five percent over 2005. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to international travel.

Passenger fares received by U.S. carriers and U.S. vessel operators from international visitors increased more than three percent over 2005 receipts to $21.6 billion for the year.

Other highlights include:

  • Travel and tourism exports accounted for 7 percent of all U.S. exports and 26 percent of services exports.
  • For the eighteenth consecutive year, the United States enjoyed a travel trade surplus, reaching $7.3 billion in 2006.
  • Travel and tourism supported 8.3 million American jobs in 2006, of which 1.1 million were supported by travel and tourism exports.
  • More people are employed by travel and tourism-related industries than are employed in the construction industry, the business and financial industries, agriculture, education, or healthcare.

For a decade of U.S. travel and tourism industry export data (1996-2006), please visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/inbound.total_intl_travel_spending_1996-2006.html.

The U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System.

« »