International Visitation Up 9% In First Eight Months Of 2008

August Arrivals 6 Percent Above August 2007

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. November 10, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC, November 7, 2008. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 34.9 million international visitors traveled to the United States during the first eight months of 2008, an increase of nine percent over the same period in 2007. In August 2008, total visitation was 5.6 million, an increase of six percent over August 2007.

International visitors spent $96.3 billion from January through August 2008, an increase of 24 percent over the first eight months of 2007. In August 2008, visitors spent a record $12.7 billion, an increase of 20 percent over August 2007.

The Official International Trade Administration press release on the August 2008 international arrivals is located on the web at: http://trade.gov/press/press_releases.asp

HIGHLIGHTS - August 2008 International Arrivals1 to the United States:

• Year-to-date 2008, Canadian visitation grew 14 percent over the same period in 2007 driven by land arrivals, up 14 percent. At the same time, air arrivals increased 12 percent.

• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior2 U.S. points) decreased seven percent during the first eight months of 2008. Land arrivals decreased seven percent and air arrivals for the year were down five percent.

• Overseas (excludes Canada and Mexico) arrivals increased 8 percent in August and 10 percent year-to-date. Visitation from overseas markets has grown for 16 consecutive months.

• Visitation from Western Europe was up 19 percent for August and 18 percent year-to-date, accounting for 48 percent of overseas arrivals.

• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up four percent in August and seven percent in year-to-date. Visitors from the United Kingdom accounted for 37 percent of all Western European arrivals.

• Year-to-date, German arrivals increased 20 percent, French arrivals grew 29 percent, and Italian arrivals were also up 29 percent, continuing growth trends from 2007. For the first eight months of 2008, visitation from the Netherlands grew 27 percent. At the same time, visitors from Spain and Ireland grew 36 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Arrivals from Sweden and Switzerland were up 22 percent and 19 percent, respectively, for the year.

• Visitation from Asia increased one percent year-to-date. Japanese arrivals decreased five percent year-to-date. Japan accounts for 51 percent of all Asian visitors for the year. Year-to-date, arrivals from South Korea decreased one percent. India and PR China, grew ten percent and 29 percent, respectively. Taiwanese visitation decreased four percent in the first eight months of 2008.

• Arrivals from South America were up 14 percent year-to-date. Year-to-date, double-digit growth in visitation was observed from Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina. From South America, top arrivals were from Brazil, accounting for 30 percent of arrivals from the region.

• Visitation from the Caribbean area decreased eight percent year-to-date. Air arrivals from the Caribbean were also down eight percent for the year. During the first eight months of 2008, there was a 12 percent decrease in arrivals from the Dominican Republic, a seven percent decline from Jamaica, and a 34 percent drop from the Bahamas.

• Travel from Oceania increased five percent year-to-date. Australia registered a six percent expansion year-to-date. Year-to-date, Australia accounted for 81 percent of all arrivals from Oceania.

• Central American arrivals increased two percent year-to-date.

• Arrivals from the Middle East increased nine percent year-to-date. For the first eight months of 2008, Israel's visitation increased six percent.

• Eastern European arrivals grew 15 percent year-to-date. Russian visitation increased 28 percent for the first eight months of 2008.

• African visitation was up 17 percent year-to-date.

To access the 2008 monthly arrivals data for world regions and top markets, visit

http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2008-I-001/index.html

TOP PORTS: Year-to-Date August 2008

Arrivals to the United States by port-of-entry are tracked on a monthly basis. The U.S. Department of Commerce has arrival data on more than 40 U.S. ports-of-entry from all world regions and 30 countries, with a brief analysis presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2008.

Year-to-date, overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) were up 10 percent through August 2008. Arrivals through the top 15 ports-of-entry accounted for 83 percent of all overseas arrivals, about the same as last year.

Twelve of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the first eight months of 2008. Arrivals increased by double digits through eight of the ports. Arrivals through San Francisco and Chicago were up 13 percent and eight percent, respectively, moving them into 5th and 6th positions ahead of Honolulu, which experienced an eight percent decline in arrivals. Atlanta, increasing 15 percent, moved into 8th place ahead of Agana, Guam. Houston, increasing 13 percent, moved into 12th place ahead of Detroit.