U.S. Tourism Off to Weak Start in 2009

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 3.1 million international visitors traveled to the U.S. in January 2009, a decrease of 9 percent compared to January 2008. International visitors spent $10.6 billion in January 2009, a 7 percent decrease compared to January 2008.

In January 2009, Canadian visitation totaled 1.1 million, down more than 12 percent. At the same time, land arrivals (584 thousand) decreased more than 16 percent and air arrivals (565 thousand) decreased eight percent.

Arrivals from Mexico totaled 405 thousand, decreasing 4 percent in January 2009. For the month, land arrivals (308 thousand) were up 2 percent and air arrivals (94 thousand) decreased 16 percent.

Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totaled 1.5 million in January 2009, down nearly 8 percent. In January 2009, four of the top 20 countries posted increases in visitation to the U.S., with two of these countries growing at a double-digit growth rate.

Brazil’s arrivals increased 5 percent in January 2009, continuing its growth trend from June 2006 (32 months of consecutive increases). China’s arrivals to the U.S. increased 37 percent in January 2009, continuing its growth trend from March 2006 (35 months of consecutive increases).

Argentina’s arrivals increased 19 percent in January 2009, continuing its growth trend from August 2006 (30 months of consecutive increases).

U.S. visitation from the 27 European Union countries declined 11 percent in January 2009. At the same time, arrivals from Western Europe, 568 thousand visitors, were down 12 percent and accounted for 37 percent of overseas arrivals.

Arrivals from South America, accounting for 13 percent of overseas arrivals, were up four percent in January 2009. Visitation from Brazil, the region’s top market, accounting for 42 percent of all arrivals, increased five percent in January 2009. Between June 2006 and January 2009, Brazil posted 32 straight months of increases in arrivals to the U.S.

Double-digit growth in visitation was recorded from Argentina (+19 percent). At the same time, visitation from Venezuela declined 3 percent in January 2009 (the previous eight months posted consecutive increases).

Visitation from the Caribbean area increased 3 percent in January 2009. In January 2009, there was a 10 percent decrease in arrivals from the Dominican Republic, the top arrivals market from this region.