The U.S. Department of Commerce announced this week a record $107.4 billion in international travel receipts – travel-related tourism spending, including passenger fares – for the United States in 2006. This spending represents a full recovery in export value since Sept. 11, 2001, and surpasses the previous record of $103.1 billion set in 2000.
“We have seen full recovery in spending by visitors to the United States since September 11, surpassing the record mark set the previous year,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Ana Guevara. “This is good news for the U.S. travel and tourism industry, which employed 8.3 million Americans last year.”
2006 U.S. Travel and Tourism Industry Highlights
Travel and tourism exports accounted for 7 percent of all U.S. exports and 26 percent of services exports.
For the eighteenth consecutive year, the United States enjoyed a travel trade surplus, reaching $7.3 billion in 2006.
Travel and tourism supported 8.3 million American jobs in 2006, of which 1.1 million were supported by travel and tourism exports.
More people are employed by travel and tourism-related industries than are employed in the construction industry, the business and financial industries, agriculture, education, or health-care.
For a decade of U.S. travel and tourism industry export data (1996-2006).
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
