U.S. Travel and Tourism Exports Decline in February

Largest Decline in Tourism-related Exports Since 2002

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. April 27, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC, April 27, 2009 - The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that international visitors spent $10.1 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of February-13% less than visitors spent in February 2008.

• Travel Receipts: Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $7.9 billion for the month, a decrease of more than 13% when compared to February 2008. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel.

• Passenger Fare Receipts: Fares received by U.S. carriers (and U.S. vessel operators) from international visitors decreased more than 11% over February 2008 receipts to $2.2 billion for the month. Passenger fare receipts for February were nearly 4% lower than January receipts.

February 2009 marks the fourth consecutive month in which U.S. travel and tourism-related exports were lower when compared to the same period of the previous year, having declined in November 2008 (-3%), December 2008 (-1%), January 2009 (- 8%), and February 2009 (-13%).

Monthly Travel and Tourism Highlights

• The recent downturn in U.S. travel and tourism exports, beginning in the closing months of 2008, interrupted seventy-four consecutive months of positive growth.

• Year-to-date (Jan-Feb) travel and tourism-related exports totaled $20.6 billion, down more than 10% over 2008.

• The U.S. travel and tourism industry generated a $3.1 billion trade surplus (i.e., exports minus imports) year to date, $1 billion less than the same period last year.

The U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. For more information relating to OTTI programs, please visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/index.htmlM.