US sets new records for travel abroad in 2005, ITA reveals

The United States Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA) on Wednesday revealed that US outbound market grew by three percent in 2005 when compared to annual 2004 figures to post a new record for total US outbound travel.

According to the ITA figures for 2005, 63.5 million US travelers went abroad, surpassing the 2004 record of 61.8 million. The growth came in travel to the overseas regions, up five percent, and to Mexico, also up five percent. US travel to overseas countries increased to 28.8 million, a new record. Travel to Canada declined almost five percent.

Spending by US travelers going abroad also set a new record in 2005 at $95.2 billion, up by six percent compared to 2004. Spending by US travelers in countries outside the United States totaled $69.2 billion, and the money spent on air transportation, via foreign air carriers, totaled $26.1 billion in 2005.

Mexico was the top US international destination in 2005 with 20.33 million travelers, up five percent from 2004 just breaking the previous peak of 20.30 million in 1996. Travel to Mexico has fluctuated over the last 10 years. The strongest growth periods were in 1995, up 20 percent, in 2000, up 10 percent and 2004, also up 10 percent.

Spending by US travelers to Mexico totaled $11.2 billion, up 10 percent from 2004.

Canada continues to be the second largest destination for US international travelers. In 2005, 14.4 million US travelers visited our northern neighbor, albeit five percent down from 2004. Although Canada generally has been a growth market over the last decade non-resident arrivals from Canada exceeded US travelers to Canada in 2005, for the first time since 1998. The peak year for US travel to Canada was in 2002 with 16.2 million US outbound travelers.

Spending by US travelers to Canada in 2005 totaled $7.4 billion, down five percent from 2004.

In 2005, a record 28.8 million US travelers visited overseas markets, an increase of five percent from 2004.

The top five overseas markets visited by US travelers in 2005 were: the United Kingdom, France, China (combined total for the PRC and Hong Kong), Italy and Germany. Destinations that experienced the highest growth in US visitation between 2004 and 2005 were the Dominican Republic, up 50 percent, Japan, up 40 percent, India, up 33 percent, Hong Kong, up 25 percent, Costa Rica, up 24 percent and the People's Republic of China, up 21 percent.

Contributing to the new record for outbound travel, seven of the top 25 US outbound destination markets posted records in 2005, including Japan, Dominican Republic, China (PRC), India, Hong Kong, Costa Rica and Thailand. Also, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, set regional records for US outbound visits between 1985 and 2005.

The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries also released a profile of the US travelers who visited overseas destinations (excluding Canada and Mexico). The profile provides key information on the travel patterns, traveler characteristics and spending by US travelers going abroad. In addition to providing an overall profile, a further breakdown is provided for leisure/VFR travelers and those traveling on a business/convention trip. There are 32 different pieces of information available on the US outbound traveler that can assist the industry in understanding these travelers.

By eTN Staff writer
USA Today

September 29, 2006   Posted in: United States