The following information on the outlook for international travel to the U.S. was presented by Helen Marano at the TIA 2006 Marketing Outlook Forum. The travel forecasts are produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries in conjunction with Global Insight, Inc.
Presentation highlights include the following information:
The absolute growth rate of total international visitation to the United States is projected to be nearly 30% by 2010, meaning we expect visitation to increase by nearly a third over the next four years. All regions (Canada, Mexico, and Overseas) all exhibit similar growth patterns showing strong, positive gains though Mexico has set four consecutive visitor volume records, including the anticipated 2006 volume growth.
International visitation from South America is projected to exhibit the strongest growth, increasing by 38%. Canada is and will remain the United States’ top visitor origin market out to 2010. Arrivals are projected to increase by 23% in 2010 to nearly 13 million European visitors a year. Each country within the top 10 origin markets in Europe should increase by double-digits in 2010 over 2005, even France.
Asia will generate the second highest growth from 2005-2010—34%—second only to South America. Japan was 63% of all visitors from Asia in 2005. This share will decline to 47% in 2010 despite the annual growth rate of 5.2%. This is because… the growth rates for China (PRC), Indian, and Republic of Korea are even HIGHER. China visitation will nearly double in five years. India’s growth will total 50% from 2005 to 2010, and visitation from the Republic of Korea will increase 38%.
International visitation to the United States from South America is projected to increase by 38% through 2010. More than 200,000 additional Brazilians are estimated to travel to the United States in 2010, an increase of 43% over 2005 visitation levels.
For a full copy of this report, please click on the following link: Outlook for International Travel to the U.S. - 2006 Marketing Outlook Forum.
