The U.S. resident outbound market totaled 60.7 million in 2012, up three percent from 2011.
Travel to overseas regions (28.5 million) increased five percent, to Canada (11.9 million) up three percent, however travel to Mexico (20.3 million), the largest outbound market, was down one percent.
The top five overseas destination countries visited by U.S. residents in 2012 were: the United Kingdom (2.5 million), the Dominican Republic (2.3 million), France (2.0 million), Italy (1.9 million) and Germany (1.7 million). Nine of the top 10 overseas destinations visited by U.S. travelers posted increases in 2012.
U.S. resident spending (‘imports’) totaled $118.1 billion in 2012, up eight percent from 2011. Travel payments, spending in foreign countries, totaled $83.4 billion. Passenger air fares, on foreign carriers, were an estimated $34.7 billion.
