2012 visitation report

InternationalVisitation to the United States:
A Statistical Summary of U.S.Visitation (2012)
U.S. Department of Commerce • International Trade Administration • Manufacturing and Services • Services
Office of Travel andTourism Industries

Table of Contents
• Highlights: International Arrivals to the United States in 2012
• Timeline of Annual International Arrivals: 2004-2012
• International Travelers to/from the United States: 2004–2012
• Top Five Overseas Regions for Visitation to the United States: 2012
• Top Five Overseas Regions for Visitation to the United States: 3-Year Comparison
• International Visitors to the United States by Region of Residency: 2011 vs. 2012
• Top 50 Markets for International Visitors: 2011 vs. 2012
• Top 10 Overseas Markets for International Visitors: 3-Year Comparison
• Historical Visitation 2004-2012: Top 50 Origin Countries
• Top 20 Overseas Markets Comparing Pleasure to Business Visitors in 2012
• Overseas Visitors Handled at the Top 15 U.S. Airports: Cumulative Market Share
• Top 15 Ports-of-Entry for Overseas Visitors to the United States 2011 vs. 2012
International Trade Administration • Manufacturing and Services • Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
International Visitation to the United
States: A Statistical Summary (2012)
1

Why is International
Travel Important?
International Visitors to the United
States Set New Record in 2012
T
he United States welcomed 67 mil-
lion international visitors in 2012, a
record level of visitors to the United
States, four million more than the year be-
fore-a seven percent increase over 2011. In
2012, the top inbound markets continued to
be Canada and Mexico. Non-resident vis-
its from Canada set a record with 22.7 mil-
lion visitors, up six percent. Mexico was
second with a record 14.5 mil-
lion visits, up eight percent.
The Mexico growth perfor-
mance reflected a recovery
following four years of very
small increases or moderate
declines in traveler volume.
The United Kingdom (-2%),
Japan (+14%), and Germany
(+3%) rounded out the top
five.

Annual overseas arrivals (excluding Cana-
da and Mexico) totaled 29.8 million during
2012. Overseas travel grew seven percent
for the year, creating a new record level of
overseas visits for the United States. Travel
from these markets accounted for 44 per-
cent of total arrivals to the United States,
with 22 of the top 50 overseas markets set-
ting new visitation records.
Top inbound countries with the largest
increases in visits in 2012 were: the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China (excluding Hong
Kong) (+35%), Colombia (+21%), Venezu-
ela (+20%), Argentina (+20%) and Brazil
(+19%). All five countries set new records
for visits to the United States. While non-
visa waiver countries (led by Brazil, the
People’s Republic of China (excluding
Hong Kong), India, Venezuela, Argentina
and Colombia) registered record level visits
to the United States, visits from most Euro-
pean Union countries were in decline.
In 2012, 14 of the top 20 in-
bound visitor markets posted
increases in visits, six ac-
counted for double-digit in-
creases and 12 set record vis-
its to the United States. The
top 20 markets accounted
for 89 percent of all inter-
national visits to the United
States, and as a group were
up seven percent compared
to 2011. The United King-
dom, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands
and Ireland were the six markets out of the
top 20 which experienced declines for the
year.
Six of the overseas regional markets posted
record level visits: Asia, South America,
Oceania, the Middle East, Eastern Europe
and Africa due in part to non-resident visits
from Brazil, Australia and Russia. Visits
from Japan, the People’s Republic of China
(excluding Hong Kong), South Korea and
India spurred Asia to post a 15 percent in-
crease
• Represents 7% of all
goods and services exports
for the United States.
• Largest services sector
export - 25% of services.
• Generates a trade surplus
of $47 billion.
• Supports 1.2 million jobs.
• Supports one additional
job for every 75 interna-
tional visitors to the United
States.
• Total employee compen-
sation in this sector ap-
proaches $223 billion an-
nually.
International Visitation to the United
States: A Statistical Summary (2012)
2

International Visitation to the United States
Sources:U.S.DepartmentofCommerce,ITA,OfficeofTravel&TourismIndustries;StatisticsCanadaandBancodeMexico/SecretariadeTurismo.
(1)Recordlevelofvisitsin2012.
p=IncludespreliminaryestimatesforCanadaandMexico.
Released:June2013
3

International Visitation to the United StatesInternationalVisitors(Inbound)andU.S.Residents(Outbound)
InternationalTravelersto/fromtheUnitedStates
2004-2012p
Sources: U.S.DepartmentofCommerce,ITA,OfficeofTravelandTourismIndustries:StatisticsCanadaandBancodeMexico/SecretariadeTurismo(Mexico).
(1) Recordlevelofvisitsin2012.
(2) “Overseas”excludesCanadaandMexico.
(3) U.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecuritystructuralchangesthatwereputinplaceinJuly2010affectcomparing2009to2010and2010to2011.
r=TotalsrevisedduetoannualrevisionbyStatisticsCanadaandBancodeMexico/SecretariadeTurismo(Mexico).

Released:June2013
InternationalVisitors
(Inbound)
200420052006200720082009r
2010r
2011r
2012p
TotalInbound(000s)(1)
46,08549,20650,97755,97857,94254,95860,00862,71166,969
%Change12%7%4%10%4%-5%9%5%7%
Overseas(1)(2)
20,32221,67921,66823,89225,34123,75626,36327,88329,761
%Change13%7%0%10%6%-6%11%6%7%
Canada(1)
13,85614,86215,99217,75918,91517,97320,17621,33722,699
%Change9%7%8%11%7%-5%12%6%6%
Mexico(1)
11,90712,66513,31714,32713,68613,22913,46913,49114,509
%Change13%6%5%8%-4%-3%2%0%8%
U.S.Residents
(Outbound)
200420052006200720082009r
2010r
2011r
2012p
TotalOutbound(000s)61,80963,50263,66364,02963,56361,43460,39358,70460,703
%Change10%3%0%1%-1%-3%-2%-3%4%
Overseas(3)
27,35128,78730,14831,22830,78930,30028,50727,02328,502
%Change12%5%5%4%-1%-2%-6%-5%5%
Canada15,08814,39013,85613,37612,50311,70911,87111,59711,834
%Change6%-5%-4%-3%-7%-6%1%-2%2%
Mexico19,37020,32519,65919,42520,27119,45220,01520,08420,367
%Change10%5%-3%-1%4%-4%3%0%1%
4

Source:U.S.DepartmentofCommerce,ITA,OfficeofTravel&TourismIndustries
Released:June2013
5

(1) Thepercentchangewascalculatedbycomparingtheyearlydatatothepreviousyear’sdata.
(2) “Overseas”excludesCanadaandMexico.
(3) Recordlevelofvisitsin2012
Released:June2013
6

Region/Country of Residence 2011 2012p % Change
(2012/2011)
Total Arrivals (1) (2)
62,711,157 66,969,038 7%
North America (2) (3)
34,828,000 37,208,000 7%
Canada (2) (4)
21,337,000 22,699,000 6%

Canada Air (2) (4)
7,472,000 7,695,000 3%
Mexico (2) (4)
13,491,000 14,509,000 8%
Mexico Air (5)
1,949,712 2,117,951 9%
Overseas (2) (6)
27,883,157 29,761,038 7%
Western Europe 11,986,795 11,751,218 -2%
Asia (2)
7,246,776 8,311,196 15%
South America(2)
3,756,689 4,416,175 18%
Oceania (2)
1,243,433 1,321,901 6%
Caribbean 1,091,419 1,131,480 4%
Middle East (2)
810,688 925,398 14%
Central America 747,168 802,956 7%
Eastern Europe (2)
673,105 727,273 8%
Africa (2)
327,084 373,441 14%
International Visitors to the U.S. by Region of Residency
2011 vs 2012p
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries: Statistics Canada
and Banco de Mexico/Secretaria de Turismo (Mexico).
(1) “Total Arrivals” is the sum of Canada, Mexico and all Overseas.
(2) Record level of visits in 2012
(3) “North America” includes Canada and Mexico only.
(4) Figures based on respective governments’ survey data, therefore, rounded to the nearest thousand.
(5) “Mexico Air” data based on U.S. Department of Homeland Security I-94 arrival records.
(6) “Overseas” excludes Canada and Mexico.
p = Includes preliminary estimates for Canada and Mexico.
Released: June 2013
7

Rank Region/Country of Residence 2011 2012p % Change
(2012/2011)
Total Arrivals (1) (2)
62,711,157 66,969,038 7%
North America (2) (3)
34,828,000 37,208,000 7%
1 Canada (2) (4)
21,337,000 22,699,000 6%
Canada Air (2) (4)
7,472,000 7,695,000 3%
2 Mexico (2) (4)
13,491,000 14,509,000 8%
Mexico Air (5)
1,949,712 2,117,951 9%
Overseas (2) (6)
27,883,157 29,761,038 7%
3 United Kingdom 3,835,300 3,763,381 -2%
4 Japan 3,249,569 3,698,073 14%
5 Germany 1,823,797 1,875,952 3%
6 Brazil (2)
1,508,279 1,791,103 19%
7 China, PRC (2)
1,089,405 1,474,408 35%
8 France 1,504,182 1,455,720 -3%
9 South Korea (2)
1,145,216 1,251,432 9%
10 Australia (2)
1,037,852 1,122,180 8%
11 Italy 891,571 831,343 -7%
12 India (2)
663,465 724,433 9%
13 Venezuela (2)
561,080 674,754 20%
14 Argentina (2)
512,258 614,504 20%
15 Spain 700,183 607,273 -13%
16 Colombia (2)
496,814 602,338 21%
17 Netherlands 601,013 591,746 -2%
18 Switzerland (2)
476,502 476,637 0%
19 Sweden (2)
438,972 442,013 1%
20 Ireland 346,879 331,850 -4%
21 Israel 302,673 303,629 0%
22 Taiwan 290,313 290,163 0%
23 Denmark 274,420 271,363 -1%
24 Norway (2)
249,167 262,822 5%
25 Belgium 259,490 260,267 0%
...Continued
Top 50 Markets for International Visitors to the United States
2011 vs 2012p
8

Rank Region/Country of Residence 2011 2012p % Change
(2012/2011)
26 Russia (2)
221,888 259,699 17%
27 Dominican Republic 230,188 244,417 6%
28 Bahamas 222,741 224,997 1%
29 Ecuador 210,910 209,828 -1%
30 Guatemala 183,671 194,373 6%
31 Peru 171,870 190,205 11%
32 Chile 171,459 187,603 9%
33 New Zealand 188,974 185,706 -2%
34 Austria 179,482 183,276 2%
35 Saudi Arabia (2)
132,920 182,225 37%
36 Costa Rica (2)
168,722 179,755 7%
37 Philippines 166,829 176,218 6%
38 Jamaica 159,235 166,984 5%
39 Singapore (2)
159,302 162,077 2%
40 Trinidad and Tobago 132,931 144,535 9%
41 Turkey (2)
122,022 137,362 13%
42 Panama (2)
119,542 133,268 11%
43 Hong Kong 128,512 133,104 4%
44 Honduras (2)
119,671 130,386 9%
45 Finland (2)
121,059 125,475 4%
46 Poland 111,158 111,157 0%
47 Nigeria (2)
82,945 104,682 26%
48 El Salvador 97,967 100,978 3%
49 South Africa 86,597 95,086 10%
50 Portugal 96,434 93,346 -3%
Top 50 Markets for International Visitors to the United States
2011 vs 2012p
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries: Statistics Canada
and Banco de Mexico/Secretaria de Turismo (Mexico).
(1) “Total Arrivals” is the sum of Canada, Mexico and all Overseas.
(2) Record level of visits in 2012.
(3) “North America” includes Canada and Mexico only.
(4) Figures based on respective governments’ survey data, therefore, rounded to the nearest thousand.
(5) “Mexico Air” data based on U.S. Department of Homeland Security I-94 arrival records.
p = Includes preliminary estimates for Canada and Mexico.
Released: June 2013
9

(1) Thepercentchangewascalculatedbycomparingtheyearlydatatothepreviousyear’sdata.
(2) Recordlevelofvisitsin2012.
Released:June2013
10

RankCountryofResidence200420052006200720082009201020112012p
TotalVisitation(1)
46,085,25749,205,52850,977,29055,978,27757,942,45154,958,18460,007,61662,711,15766,969,038
1Canada(1)
13,856,00014,862,00015,992,00017,759,00018,915,00017,973,00020,176,00021,337,00022,699,000
2Mexico11,907,00012,665,00013,317,00014,327,00013,686,00013,229,00013,469,00013,491,00014,509,000
3UnitedKingdom4,302,7374,344,9574,176,2114,497,8584,564,8953,899,1673,850,8643,835,3003,763,381
4Japan3,747,6203,883,9063,672,5843,531,4893,249,5782,918,2683,386,0763,249,5693,698,073
5Germany1,319,9041,415,5301,385,5201,524,1511,782,2991,686,8251,726,1931,823,7971,875,952
6Brazil(1)
384,734485,373525,271639,431769,232892,6111,197,8661,508,2791,791,103
7China(ExclHongKong)
(1)
202,544270,272320,450397,405492,958524,817801,7381,089,4051,474,408
8France775,274878,648789,815997,5061,243,9421,204,4901,342,2071,504,1821,455,720
9SouthKorea(1)
626,595705,093757,721806,175759,394743,8461,107,5181,145,2161,251,432
10Australia(1)
519,955581,773603,275669,536689,927723,576904,2471,037,8521,122,180
11Italy470,805545,546532,829634,152779,463753,310838,225891,571831,343
12India(1)
308,845344,926406,845567,045598,971549,474650,935663,465724,433
13Venezuela(1)
330,285340,315369,037458,678507,153507,185491,604561,080674,754
14Argentina(1)
167,726188,865212,096266,971318,144356,428436,192512,258614,504
15Spain333,432385,640424,224516,471658,333596,766639,654700,183607,273
16Colombia(1)
295,371325,398348,388389,752419,268424,526494,739496,814602,338
17Netherlands424,872448,650446,785506,852607,802547,790570,179601,013591,746
18Switzerland(1)
243,186256,730270,571296,369341,955355,727390,591476,502476,637
19Sweden(1)
254,258290,530285,994337,474397,017324,417371,853438,972442,013
20Ireland345,119383,400414,423491,055531,198411,203360,492346,879331,850
21Israel275,373284,310283,889313,077332,257308,213306,914302,673303,629
22Taiwan297,684318,886300,382311,020294,893239,545291,107290,313290,163
23Denmark150,839174,581185,337217,593256,604245,623258,788274,420271,363
24Norway(1)
130,400139,043145,359172,882213,983193,318221,145249,167262,822
25Belgium175,997191,596188,311216,579265,383245,710254,892259,490260,267
InternationalVisitorstoUnitedStates:CountryofResidency
HistoricalArrivals2004-2012p
(Top50OriginCountries)
...Continued
11

Sources: U.S.DepartmentofCommerce,ITA,OfficeofTravelandTourismIndustries:StatisticsCanada
andBancodeMexico/SecretariadeTurismo(Mexico).
Released:June2013
RankCountryofResidence200420052006200720082009201020112012p
26Russia(1)
72,41984,78094,681114,850142,998142,650174,511221,888259,699
27DominicanRepublic180,048221,449236,622263,452226,184227,948239,972230,188244,417
28Bahamas265,681237,140243,300256,433180,914224,812243,204222,741224,997
29Ecuador133,046143,073147,173155,328152,112168,432195,546210,910209,828
30Guatemala161,983170,076173,793201,286188,177189,455188,218183,671194,373
31Peru151,409151,823133,398148,967162,883160,474173,269171,870190,205
32Chile101,171101,550110,143123,152130,813126,609146,736171,459187,603
33NewZealand127,394139,780138,486147,735145,325131,012174,619188,974185,706
34Austria112,950117,688117,191131,339158,764162,569168,403179,482183,276
35SaudiArabia(1)
18,57325,11931,51138,93848,59062,03089,409132,920182,225
36CostaRica(1)
127,112133,820130,702160,444165,257157,471165,594168,722179,755
37Philippines143,962153,821153,887171,829179,820171,680177,525166,829176,218
38Jamaica163,059175,351204,912221,521204,982185,526178,791159,235166,984
39Singapore(1)
106,527115,939122,995135,209141,474107,400139,319159,302162,077
40Trindad&Tobago121,158128,392133,906143,009147,613141,406136,628132,931144,535
41Turkey(1)
76,40484,43490,12295,568107,57294,302115,237122,022137,362
42Panama(1)
76,03278,85581,35887,329102,832109,968118,976119,542133,268
43HongKong123,335135,108137,278142,419139,359116,023131,712128,512133,104
44Honduras(1)
85,50689,71892,445111,059116,902115,405115,616119,671130,386
45Finland(1)
78,61289,12587,90496,173118,448114,364111,840121,059125,475
46Poland123,003134,430137,588138,525146,887115,327114,702111,158111,157
47Nigeria(1)
45,60647,39744,99952,99672,66968,50579,42782,945104,682
48ElSalvador181,209164,492153,835159,783136,494123,185112,34697,967100,978
49SouthAfrica78,43389,10289,01793,71993,69278,93480,17486,59795,086
50Portugal60,93068,11171,40680,61189,15874,45793,58496,43493,346
InternationalVisitorstoUnitedStates:CountryofResidency
HistoricalArrivals2004-2012p
(Top50OriginCountries)
12

Country
of Residence
Percent
Change
Pleasure
Travelers
Pleasure
Arrivals
Rank
Percent
Change
Business
Travelers
Total
Arrivals
Percent
Change
Total
Arrivals
Total
Overseas
Arrivals
Rank
Business
Travel
Percent
of Total
Pleasure
Travel
Percent
of Total
Japan 15 1 6 3,698,073 14 2 9.8% 89.2%
United Kingdom -2 2 0 3,763,381 -2 1 16.0% 83.6%
Brazil 21 3 3 1,791,103 19 4 8.8% 89.9%
Germany 4 4 -1 1,875,952 3 3 19.6% 79.6%
France -4 5 0 1,455,720 -3 6 14.5% 84.6%
South Korea 14 6 -1 1,251,432 9 7 13.6% 78.8%
Australia 9 7 3 1,122,180 8 8 12.1% 87.5%
China (Excl HK) 50 8 9 1,474,408 35 5 20.1% 62.6%
Italy -8 9 1 831,343 -7 9 15.1% 83.9%
Venezuela 22 10 4 674,754 20 11 6.7% 91.3%
Argentina 23 11 -3 614,504 20 12 8.3% 91.3%
Colombia 23 12 9 602,338 21 14 10.1% 88.2%
Spain -15 13 -1 607,273 -13 13 12.7% 85.7%
India 14 14 1 724,433 9 10 22.2% 69.7%
Netherlands -1 15 -2 591,746 -2 15 20.5% 79.1%
Switzerland -1 16 3 476,637 0 16 15.2% 83.4%
Sweden 1 17 -2 442,013 1 17 16.7% 81.8%
Ireland -5 18 3 331,850 -4 18 14.1% 85.6%
Israel 0 19 2 303,629 0 19 20.5% 78.6%
Dominican Republic 8 20 -6 244,417 6 25 8.4% 90.6%
Total Overseas (2)
Non-Resident Visits
8 2 29,761,038 7 14.4% 82.4%
Visitation to the United States: Pleasure Travel1
vs. Business Travel
From Top Overseas Countries Sending Pleasure Travelers to the United States
January - December 2012
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Manufacturing & Services, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
(1) The monthly figures on all travelers from each country to the United States represent mainly business, pleasure and student travelers. For some countries,
there is a significant difference in the rate of change by the type of visa. The table above shows these differences for the top 20 overseas tourist-generating
countries, specifically the change in pleasure travel versus business travel.
Released: June 2013
13

Thedatapresentedinthisgraphisfromareportcontaining29tablesofinternationalarrivalsdata. Fortyportsofentryaretrackedeachmonthbyworldregionand
selectedcountries.
Released:June2013
14

Rank PORTS2
2011
Total
Overseas
2012
Total
Overseas
% Change
2012/2011
2012
Market
Share
Cumulative
Market
Share
-- GRAND TOTAL 27,883,157 29,761,038 7% 100.0% --
1 New York, NY 4,562,166 4,803,235 5% 16.1% 16.1%
2 Miami, FL 3,674,560 3,980,395 8% 13.4% 29.5%
3 Los Angeles, CA 2,907,304 2,880,704 -1% 9.7% 39.2%
4 Honolulu, HI 1,605,192 1,941,197 21% 6.5% 45.7%
5 Newark, NJ 1,672,973 1,598,722 -4% 5.4% 51.1%
6 San Francisco, CA 1,471,264 1,519,146 3% 5.1% 56.2%
7 Chicago, IL 1,221,011 1,228,067 1% 4.1% 60.3%
8 Agana, GU 992,665 1,169,205 18% 3.9% 64.2%
9 Orlando, FL 851,535 953,019 12% 3.2% 67.4%
10 Atlanta, GA 931,089 914,710 -2% 3.1% 70.5%
11 Washington, DC 853,136 881,142 3% 3.0% 73.5%
12 Houston, TX 627,448 660,225 5% 2.2% 75.7%
13 Boston, MA 510,889 531,534 4% 1.8% 77.5%
14 Dallas, TX 403,400 489,645 21% 1.6% 79.1%
15 Detroit, MI 429,131 479,754 12% 1.6% 80.7%
Top 15 Ports-of-Entry for Overseas1
Visitors to the United States
2011 vs. 2012
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
(2) This is one column from a report containing 29 tables of international arrivals data. Forty ports of entry are tracked each month by world
region and select countries.
Released: June 2013
15

Interested in obtaining data for your organization?
OTTI collects, analyzes and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics from
the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System and produces visitation data tables, includ-
ing a business and pleasure arrivals rate of change analysis and detailed region, country
and port analyses.
To learn more, you are encouraged to visit:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/monthly/arrivals/index.html
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Manufacturing and Services
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
1401 Constitution Ave, NW, Room 10003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: (202) 482-0140
Fax: (202) 482-2887
otti@trade.gov
http://tinet.ita.doc.gov
For OTTI programs of interest visit:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/index.html
• Summary of International Travel to the United States (I-94)
• U.S. International Air Traveler Statistics (APIS, formerly I-92)
• Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT)
• Canadian Statistics
• Forecast of International Arrivals to the United States
• U.S. Travel and Tourism Exports, Imports, and Balance of Trade
• U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts
• Travel Trade Barometer

2012 visitation report

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2012 visitation report