The U.S. Department of Commerce announces that 5.4 million international visitors traveled to the United States in August 2009, a decrease of four percent compared to August 2008. Total visitation in the first eight months of 2009 was down nine percent compared to the same period in 2008.
Highlights(1) (2)
Canada and Mexico
- In August 2009, Canadian visitation declined six percent compared to August 2008. Measured by mode, land arrivals (1.9 million) declined by eight percent and air arrivals (496,000) increased four percent. In the first eight months of 2009, visitation from Canada decreased eight percent, with land arrivals (8.3 million) down nine percent and air arrivals (4.1 million) down eight percent.
- Visitation from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) totaled 546,000, up 23 percent in August 2009. For the month, land arrivals (415,000) increased 37 percent and air arrivals (130,000) decreased seven percent. Overall, traffic for the first eight months of 2009 was down six percent, with land arrivals (2.9 million) down one percent and air arrivals (939,000) down 19 percent.
Overseas (excluding Canada and Mexico)
- Overseas visitation decreased six percent in August 2009 and dropped nine percent year-to-date.
Top 20 Countries
- In August 2009, of the top 20 countries 11 posted decreases in visitation to the United States, and visitation from five of the top 20 countries registered double-digit declines.
- In August 2009, Mexico, PRC & Hong Kong, Brazil, and the Bahamas registered double-digit increases.
- In the first eight months of 2009, 17 of the top 20 countries posted decreases in visitation to the United States, with visitation from eight countries registering double-digit declines.
Click here to access the 2009 monthly arrivals data for Canada and Mexico, Overseas, and the Top 20 Countries.
OVERSEAS VISITATION
- U.S. visitation from the 27 European Union countries declined 11 percent in August 2009 and also dropped 11 percent from the first eight months of 2008.
- U.S. visits from Western Europe, 1.1 million visitors, were down 11 percent in August 2009. Year-to-date, arrivals (7.2 million) also decreased 11 percent.
- For the month and year-to-date, visitors from Western Europe accounted for 47 percent of all overseas visitors.
- U.S. visits from the United Kingdom, 385,000 visitors, were down 13 percent in August 2009, accounting for 34 percent of all Western European arrivals. Year-to-date, visitation from the United Kingdom dropped 16 percent and accounted for 35 percent of all Western European visitors.
- German visits were up one percent for the month and down six percent year-to-date. At the same time, French arrivals decreased nine percent in August 2009 and are down three percent for the year.
- Italian visitation was down 15 percent in August 2009 and down seven percent year-to-date. Visitors from the Netherlands were down two percent for the month and down 11 percent for the year. Spanish visits decreased 20 percent in August 2009 and decreased 12 percent in the first eight months.
- Visitation from Ireland decreased 25 percent for the month, and was down 20 percent for the year. Visitors from Switzerland and Sweden were up one percent and down 15 percent, respectively, for the month.In the first eight months, visits from Switzerland increased two percent while visits from Sweden decreased 19 percent.
- Eastern European visits were down seven percent for the month, and flat for the year. Russian visitation decreased seven percent for the month, and was flat for the year.
- Visitation from Asia decreased four percent in August 2009 and 14 percent in the first eight months of 2009.
- Japanese visits were eight percent below the August 2008 visitor levels, and down 16 percent in the first eight months of 2009. Japan accounted for 48 percent of all Asian visitors for the month and 50 percent of Asian visitors in the first eight months of 2009.
- In August 2009, visitation from South Korea and India declined four percent and 11 percent, respectively. Year-to-date, arrivals from South Korea and India dropped 11 percent and 12 percent, respectively.In August 2009 arrivals from the People’s Republic of China were up 35 percent and increased one percent for the year.
- Taiwanese visitation dropped 12 percent for the month and was down 23 percent year-to-date.
- U.S. visitation from South America increased nine percent in August 2009 and increased four percent in the first eight months of 2009.
- Brazilian visitation was up 35 percent for the month and up 11 percent in the first eight months. Brazil is the top visitation market from South America; and in the first eight months of 2009 accounted for 32 percent of visits from the region. U.S. visits from Venezuela increased three percent in August 2009 but declined one percent for the year.
- U.S. visitation from Colombia decreased seven percent for the month and dropped four percent year-to-date. Argentine visits increased one percent in August 2009 and grew nine percent for the year.
- Central American visits decreased four percent in August 2009 bringing the region to a five percent decline for the year.
- U.S. visitation from the Caribbean decreased two percent in August 2009 and dropped four percent for the year.
- Visitation from the Dominican Republic, the top visitation market from the Caribbean region for the year, decreased four percent in August 2009 and declined six percent for the year.
- In August 2009 there was a 24 percent increase in visits from the Bahamas. Year-to-date, visits were up 15 percent.
- Travel from Oceania increased one percent in August 2009 but decreased three percent year-to-date.
- Visits from Australia were up three percent in August 2009 but registered a two percent decrease year-to-date. Australia accounted for 82 percent of all visits from Oceania in the first eight months of 2009.
- U.S. visitation from the Middle East increased one percent in August 2009 and was down three percent year-to-date.
- Israeli visitation to the United States increased six percent in August 2009 and dropped seven percent year-to-date.
- U.S. visitation from Africa decreased eight percent in August 2009 and declined nine percent for the year.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce





GPS is sexy. We get that a lot. And we have organizations contact us because they are excited about the market appeal of GPS – and the perception that GPS alone will attract new customers.
But GPS tourism is like any new application of technology in an industry – when the appeal wears off – you just want it to work and work well. If you look at GPS more closely, what you’ll find is a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 are in use with three back-up satellites) and GPS receivers that are used to communicate with these satellites.
While how we apply GPS in the tourism industry is exciting – GPS does not attract more visitors or sell more tickets. The gig is up. Why?
Because it’s the passenger experience that counts.
Travelers are seeking fun, entertainment, cultural enrichment and activities where they can learn something new. While GPS contributes to making the experience happen (we automate sightseeing experiences in one or many languages), GPS is only a tool we use for solving logistical and safety issues such as no driver intervention required or communicating to our TriggerPOINT system to play 8 languages simultaneously at a specific point of interest.
While the appeal of GPS is stronger for those of us who happen to love technology, for everyone else – the magic lies in the storytelling. It’s fun and entertaining sightseeing experiences that sell more tickets – by providing memorable sightseeing experiences people want to talk about – and recommend.
While GPS is sexy – this sex appeal only lasts for a few dates. Where the long term relationship begins – is in creating and providing exceptional sightseeing experiences that ignites your passengers’ imaginations and creates fun and lasting memories for your customers every time your tours depart.
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