International Visitation Up 1% in October 2009

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. January 12, 2010

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 4.0 million international visitors traveled to the United States in October 2009, an increase of one percent over October 2008. This is the first increase in arrivals since April 2009 and the first non-Easter increase since August 2008. However, for the first ten months of 2009, visitation was down seven percent compared to the same period in 2008. International visitors spent $10.3 billion in October 2009, 13 percent less than in October 2008. In the first ten months of 2009, visitors spent $100.9 billion, down nearly 16 percent from the same period in 2008.

Highlights

Top 20 Countries
In October 2009, of the top 20 countries, 13 posted increases in visitation to the United States. Visitation from six of the top 20 countries registered double-digit increases: Brazil; Australia; the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong; South Korea; Venezuela; and Columbia.

International Arrivals to United States for October and Year-to-Date (YTD) 2009

• Visitation from Canada was down one percent in October and seven percent YTD.
  
• Arrivals from Mexico were up two percent for the month but down five percent YTD.
  
• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totaled 2.2 million for the month, up one percent over October 2008, and totaled 19.8 million YTD, down eight percent over 2008.
  
• Visitation from Western Europe decreased five percent in October and 11 percent YTD.
  
• Visitation from top Western European markets was mixed for the month of October 2009 as well as the first ten months of the year: United Kingdom, down eight percent for the month and down 15 percent YTD; Germany, up four percent for the month but down six percent YTD; France, down four percent for the month and down three percent YTD; Italy, up five percent for the month but down six percent YTD; the Netherlands, down eight percent for the month and down 11 percent YTD; Spain, up one percent for the month but down 11 percent YTD; Ireland, down 28 percent for the month and down 23 percent YTD; and Switzerland, up seven percent for the month and up three percent YTD. Eastern European arrivals decreased seven percent for the month and two percent YTD.
  
• Visitation from Asia increased two percent for the month but decreased 11 percent YTD. Arrivals from Japan decreased two percent for the month and 12 percent YTD; South Korea increased 11 percent for the month but decreased eight percent YTD; China increased 19 percent for the month and four percent YTD; and India grew 10 percent for the month but declined 10 percent YTD.
  
• Arrivals from South America increased 22 percent for the month and six percent YTD.
• Oceania visitation was up 24 percent in October and flat YTD.

Top Ports For the first ten months of 2009, visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 84 percent of all overseas visits, almost two percentage points higher than last year. The top three ports (New York JFK, Miami, and Los Angeles) accounted for 39 percent of all overseas arrivals, up one percentage point from the first ten months of 2008. Miami, Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale are the only top ports that posted an increase in arrivals for the year.

Background Manufacturing and Services' Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) collects, analyzes and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. To view OTTI visitation data tables, including a business and pleasure arrivals rate of change analysis and a more detailed region and country analysis, please visit: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2009-I-001/index.html.

Media Contact:
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries U.S. Department of Commerce
[email protected]