International spending in US down in January 2010

The US Department of Commerce today confirmed with their international visitor arrival numbers for January, that more international visitors are traveling to America, but they are spending less during

The US Department of Commerce today confirmed with their international visitor arrival numbers for January, that more international visitors are traveling to America, but they are spending less during their stay.

International visitors spent US$10.3 billion in January 2010, three percent less than in January 2009. January 2010 marks the fifteenth consecutive month in which the US travel and tourism-related exports were lower than when compared to the same period of the previous year. On the other hand, 3.4 million international visitors traveled to the United States in January 2010, an increase of 10 percent over January 2009. That’s the 4th consecutive month of increases in the number of international arrivals.

In January 2010, 17 of the top 20 countries posted increases in visitation to the United States. Visitation from nine of the top 20 countries registered double-digit increases: Canada, Brazil, South Korea, the Peopleโ€™s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Australia, Argentina, Spain, Colombia, and Switzerland.

January 2010 International Arrivals to United States:

– Canadian visitation totaled 1.3 million, up 13 percent in January.

– In January 2010, air arrivals totaled 631,000, up 12 percent; and land arrivals totaled 670,000, up 15 percent.

– Mexican visitation totaled 416,000 and was up three percent for the month.

– Air arrivals (101,000) were up seven percent for the month and land arrivals (312,000) were up one percent.

– Overseas visitation totaled 1.7 million for the month, up eight percent over January 2009.

– Visitation from western Europe increased one percent for the month.

– Visitation from 19 western European markets was up for the month.

– Seven of the top 10 markets registered increases in January (Germany +5 percent, France +4 percent, Italy +7 percent, Spain +10 percent, Netherlands +3 percent, Sweden +5 percent, and Switzerland +14 percent).

– Visits from the United Kingdom dropped five percent in January.

– Eastern European visits decreased one percent for the month.

– Visitation from Asia increased 12 percent in January.

– Seven of the top 10 markets registered increases in January (Japan +9 percent, South Korea +40 percent, the Peopleโ€™s Republic of China +15 percent, India +7 percent, Singapore +18 percent, the Philippines +2 percent, and Indonesia +7 percent).

– Visits from South America increased 18 percent for the month.

– In January 2010, visits from Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia were up 30 percent, 12 percent, and 20 percent, respectively. US visitation from Venezuela decreased eight percent for the month.

– Visits from Central America increased seven percent for the month.

– Visitation from the Caribbean grew seven percent in January 2010.

– Visits from the Dominican Republic, the regionโ€™s top market, accounting for 21 percent of all visits, increased 18 percent in January 2010.

– Oceania visitation was up 18 percent in January.

– Australia accounted for 86 percent of all visits from the region in January 2010. Visits from Australia increased 22 percent for the month.

– Visitation from the Middle East increased 16 percent in January 2010.

– Israelโ€™s visitation was up eight percent.

– African visitation grew three percent in January 2010.

In January 2009, visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 86 percent of all overseas visits, one percentage point lower than last year. The top three ports (Miami, New York JFK, and Los Angeles) accounted for 40 percent of all overseas arrivals, about the same as in January 2009. Twelve of the top 15 ports posted increases in arrivals in January 2010. Five of these ports posted double-digit increases. This upturn in the total of overseas arrivals reverses the majority of the declines registered in January 2009.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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