International Visitor Spending in the United States: September 2013

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that international visitors spent an estimated $14.9 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of September.

• Travel Receipts: Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $11.5 billion during September, an increase of nearly 6 percent when compared to last year. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel.
• Passenger Fare Receipts: Fares received by U.S. carriers (and U.S. vessel operators) from international visitors totaled $3.4 billion for the month, an increase of nearly 4 percent when compared to September 2012.
  

The growth of total U.S. travel and tourism exports continues to outpace the growth of total U.S. services exports; international visitors have spent an estimated $133.5 billion in the United States year to date, an increase of more than 8 percent, while total U.S. services exports increased by 5 percent during the same period. Moreover, the year-to-date increase in total travel and tourism exports accounts for more than 43 percent of the growth of total services exports. Put simply, travel and tourism is driving the proverbial train when it comes to the growth of U.S. services exports.

U.S. resident spending abroad also rose in September, up nearly 4 percent when compared to September 2012. As a result of exports exceeding imports, the United States enjoyed a favorable balance of trade for the month of September—a surplus of nearly $4.6 billion for the month (and a $41.7 billion surplus year to date).

The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. For more monthly travel and tourism-related trade data dating back to 1992, please visit the NTTO site at: < http://travel.trade.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/Monthly_Exports_Imports_Balance.xlsx >.