International Visitation to the U.S. Up 11 Percent for First Nine Months of 2010

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that for the first nine months of 2010, 45.3 million international visitors traveled to the United States, an 11 percent increase over the same period in 2009. In September 2010, 5.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States, an increase of eight percent over September 2009. September 2010 registered the 12th straight month of increases in U.S. arrivals.

International visitors spent $100.0 billion during the first nine months of 2010, 11 percent more than the same period in 2009. In September 2010, international visitors spent $11.7 billion, 17 percent more than in September 2009. September 2010 marks the ninth consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism-related exports.

September YTD 2010, overseas resident visits (19.7 million) were up 12 percent compared to the same period 2009. In September 2010, overseas resident visitation (2.4 million) was up 14 percent over September 2009. Compared to the first nine months of 2008, September YTD 2010 overseas resident visits increased two percent. September 2010 overseas resident visits were up nine percent compared to September 2008.

In the first nine months of 2010, nine of the top 10 countries posted increases in visitation to the United States. September YTD 2010, the United Kingdom posted the only decline, registering a one percent decrease when compared to the same period in 2009.

In September 2010, nine of the top 10 countries posted increases in resident visitation. In September 2010, Mexico posted the only decline, registering a four percent decrease when compared to September 2009.

In September 2010, visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 81 percent of all overseas visits-more than two and one-half percentage points lower than last year. The top three ports (New York JFK, Miami and Los Angeles) accounted for 37 percent of all overseas arrivals, more than one percentage point below September 2009.

Thirteen of the top 15 ports posted increases in arrivals in September 2010. Six of these ports posted double-digit increases. This upturn in the total of overseas arrivals reverses the majority of the declines registered in September 2009.