FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, May 16, 2007

CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (202) 482-4883

WASHINGTON—U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary David A. Sampson today celebrated National Tourism Week by announcing that tourism-related sales totaled a record $1.2 trillion in 2006.  In addition, 2.9 million international visitors traveled to the United States in February, an increase of nine percent over February 2006.  International visitors also spent $9.2 billion during the month, up eight percent. 

 

“The United States remains a popular tourist destination for international visitors and the industry is breaking records,” said Sampson.  “U.S. travel and tourism ended 2006 strongly and it looks like the momentum is continuing into 2007.  This is good news for the U.S. economy and the many jobs the U.S. travel and tourism industry supports.”

 

Travel and tourism represents the top services export for the United States and has produced a travel balance of trade surplus since 1989. Exports in this industry are defined as travel-related purchases made here in the United States by international visitors. 

 

For additional information on international travel to the United States, including the top markets and regional data, please go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2007-I-001/index.html

Fact Sheet
2006 Year-End Travel

• 2006 was a record-setting year for the U.S. travel and tourism industry—America’s leading services export.

• In fact, travel and tourism-related exports now account for 26% of all U.S. services exports and 7% of all U.S. exports, goods and services alike.

• And U.S. travel and tourism exports have never been higher.  Indeed, international travelers spent a record-breaking $108 billion experiencing the United States in 2006, eclipsing the previous record set in 2000 by nearly 5%.

• 2006 also marks the eighteenth consecutive year this industry has enjoyed a balance of trade surplus, a strong indication of our ability to compete in today’s global marketplace.

• Previous setbacks notwithstanding—September 11, 2001, SARS in 2003, Katrina in 2005—the U.S. travel and tourism industry has proven its resiliency by posting positive gains for sixteen of the last seventeen consecutive quarters, an impressive feat from an industry so vital to our overall economic well-being.

• Total tourism-related sales in 2006 were equally impressive. According to the Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts (TTSAs), the industry generated $1.2 trillion in sales last year, the highest level of output in history.

• Even when adjusted for changes in price since 2000, real direct output for every single sector reported in 2006 broke previously set records.

• The transportation sector recorded the third consecutive year of record-breaking output —$223 billion in 2006. Passenger air transportation accounted for $113 billion (51%) of this output, which is also an industry record.

• The recreation, entertainment, and shopping sectors reported a record $167 billion in 2006; travelers in the United States spent nearly $96 billion on travel and tourism-related goods while shopping local communities. These same travelers consumed nearly $71 billion of your recreation and entertainment services in 2006—another industry record.

• Travelers accounted for $100 billion in real output from food services and drinking establishments in 2006—another industry record.

• Travelers spent just over $96 billion on accommodations in 2006—another industry record.

• The U.S. travel and tourism industry supports local communities, small businesses,  schools, infrastructure, banks, farms, museums, shopping malls, and family-owned restaurants and generates billions of dollars in local, state, and federal taxes.

• More than 8 million American jobs depend upon the industry.