TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI)

July 18, 2012

U.S. Travel Abroad Declined Three Percent in 2011

U.S. spending abroad increases seven percent compared to 2010

The U.S. resident outbound market totaled 58.7 million in 2011, down three percent from 2010. Travel to overseas regions declined* five percent, while travel to Mexico and Canada were flat and down one percent, respectively. This is the fourth straight year for declines in the total number of Americans going abroad.

The top five countries visited by U.S. residents in 2011, were: Mexico (20.1 million), Canada (11.6 million), the United Kingdom (2.4 million), France (1.8 million) and Italy (1.7 million). Only three of the top 10 destinations visited by U.S. travelers posted increases in 2011.

Spending by U.S. residents traveling abroad (imports) totaled $109.8 billion, up seven percent from 2010. Spending within foreign countries (travel payments) totaled $78.7 billion, up four percent, and U.S. travelers spending on transportation, via foreign carriers (passenger fare payments), totaled $31.1 billion in 2011, up 14 percent. Top countries for U.S. spending included Mexico ($9.3 billion), the United Kingdom ($8.7 billion), Canada ($7.7 billion), Germany ($5.7 billion), and Japan ($5.0 billion).
Source: Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, U.S. Department of Commerce

For more detail information, please go to the outbound overview page, which contains links to in-depth information on the U.S. outbound market at https://travel.trade.gov/outreachpages/outbound.general_information.outbound_overview.html

U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration/MAS/Services
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 1003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone:(202) 482-0140
Fax: (202) 482-2887
Website: <www.tinet.ita.doc.gov>
Email: otti@trade.gov