Americans love foreign travel. According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism, in 2010 more than 60 million people visited other nations, with more than half going to Canada and Mexico. The overwhelming impetus––74%––was to vacation or visit family and friends; this amounted to 23.9 million people. Another 6.2 million went abroad on business.
Citizens of other nations have the travel bug as well. The United Nations World Tourist Organization forecasts 3-4% growth in 2012 international tourism; travelers, it is expected, will reach the one billion mark. This gibes with the annual travel trends survey conducted by TripAdvisor.com. Of 2,700 individuals queried, 68% said “they plan to travel outside the U.S in 2012…”
International vacationers this year can expect to pay more. A study by Advito, a consulting firm, “forecasts [air] fare rises in all regions in 2012 within a tight band of three percent to five percent.” Airfares have skyrocketed. In 2011, CNNMoney reported that flights to Europe had increased by $500 to cover higher fuel costs and taxes. A British Airways special five years ago featured a New York to London roundtrip fare of $558; the cheapest summer 2012 non-stop, mid-week, roundtrip found on a price comparison site was $1,128.
Advito also expects higher hotel rates.
For the millions of Americans planning to drive to Mexico or Canada, an analyst for GasBuddy.com says “It looks like it might be the most painful year at the pump that we have ever seen.” Gasoline prices could climb to a summer high between $4 and $5 per gallon. The AAA’s “Fuel Gauge Report” notes that the U.S. record gas price per gallon was $4.11 in July 2008. In early 2012, GasBuddy.com put the median national gas price at $3.40; in 2007, it was approximately $2.75.
The government’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries provides a huge amount of international travel data on the overseas’ experiences of Americans. In 2010, the Mid-Atlantic region was home for 34% of American who engaged in foreign travel. Travelers were abroad, on average, for nearly three weeks and overwhelmingly chose only one country to visit. The average expenditure per travel group was $4,327, and 58% of overseas vacationers described themselves as “professional/technical” or “manager/executive.” Both male and female travelers were typically in their mid 40s. Most travelers
––92%––left children home. In fact, 43% went overseas as single adults; 27% traveled with their spouse. A $96,100 median household income almost doubled the U.S. Census Bureau figure of $49,445.
Show Me The Money!
Each year, tourism earns host countries billions of dollars. The information below focuses on the top ten vacation destinations, both for the U.S. and internationally.
Ranking of Leading Tourist
Destinations and Millions of
Visitors (2010)
U.S.
1. United Mexican States (Mexico)––20
2. Canada––11.7
3. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland––2.4
4. Dominican Republic––1.8
5. French Republic (France)––1.7
6. Italian Republic (Italy)––1.7
7. Federal Republic of Germany––1.7
8. Jamaica––1.5
9. People’s Republic of China––1.3
10. Japan––1.2
1. France––76.8
2. United States of America––59.7
3. China––55.7
4. Kingdom of Spain––52.7
5. Italy––43.6
6. United Kingdom––28.1
7. Republic of Turkey––27
8. Germany––26.9
9. Malaysia––24.6
10. Mexico––22.4
Travel and Tourism Income:
Billions of Dollars Earned (2010)
1. United States––$103.5
2. Spain––$52.5
3. France––$46.3
4. China––$45.8
5. Italy––$38.8
6. Germany––$34.7
7. United Kingdom––$30.4
8. Australia––25.4
9. Hong Kong (China)––$23
10. Turkey––$20.8
Tourism: Percent of GDP,
World Top Ten Destinations (2011)
Direct GDP refers specifically
to revenues generated by travel
and tourism; total contribution includes
the wider economic impact of travel
and tourism upon the economy.
GDP DIRECT CONTRIBUTION
Malaysia––7.2%
Mexico––6.2%
Spain––5.1%
Turkey––4.1%
France––3.9%
Italy––3.2%
United States––2.6%
China––2.5%
United Kingdom––2.4%
Germany––1.7%
GDP TOTAL CONTRIBUTION
Malaysia––15.8%
Spain––14.4%
Mexico––13%
Turkey––10%
France––9.1%
United States––8.8%
China––8.6%
Italy––8.6%
United Kingdom––6.9%
Germany––4.6%
Tourism Workforce:
World Top Ten Destinations
The direct workforce refers specifically
to travel and tourism employees, while
the total number includes jobs indirectly
supported by the industry. Also included
is the percent of the nation’s entire workforce.
DIRECT TOURISM WORKFORCE
China––23,087,000, 2.9%
United States––5,492,000, 3.9%
Mexico––3,254,000, 7.3%
France––1,149,000, 4.5%
United Kingdom––956,000, 3.1%
Italy––853,000, 3.7%
Malaysia––768,000, 6.7%
Germany––750,000, 1.8%
Turkey––503,000, 2.2%
Spain––491,000, 2.6%
TOTAL TOURISM WORKFORCE
China––64,780,000, 8.2%
United States––14,778,000, 10.5%
Mexico––6,630,000, 14.8%
France––2,616,000, 10.2%
Spain––2,344,000, 12.7%
United Kingdom––2,341,000, 7.6%
Italy––2,210,000, 9.7%
Germany––1,985,000, 4.9%
Turkey––1,873,000, 8.1%
Malaysia––1,587,000, 13.8%
World Top Ten Destinations
Rankings are revised, given that
the European Union is listed as Number 1.
I have excluded the European Union and
raised each country by one ranking.
United States––1
China––2
Germany––5
United Kingdom––7
France––9
Italy––10
Mexico––11
Spain––13
Turkey––16
Malaysia––29
2010 Per Capita GDP:
World Top Ten Destinations
RANKING/AMOUNT
11. United States––$47,200
33. Germany––$35,700
37. United Kingdom––$34,800
39. France––$33,100
43. Italy––$30,500
48. Spain––$29,400
78. Malaysia––$14,700
85. Mexico––$13,900
94. Turkey––$12,300
125. China––$7,600
U.S. and International Top Ten:
Current Exchange Rates: U.S. $1 =
January 31, 2012
Canada––1.003 Canadian Dollars
China––6.287 Chinese Yuan Renmimbis
Dominican Republic––38.258 Dominican Republic Pesos
France––0.760 Euros
Germany––0.760 Euros
Italy––0.760 Euros
Jamaica––84.594 Jamaican Dollars
Japan––76.59 Japanese Yen
Malaysia––3.048 Malaysian Ringgits
Mexico––12.966 Mexican Pesos
Spain––0.760 Euros
Turkey––1.784 Turkish Liras
United Kingdom––0.637 British Pounds
In the United States, economic uncertainty, the national debt, unemployment, and Congressional gridlock––among other issues––has not impeded significantly American international travel. The number of American tourists going abroad, according to government data, has decreased only 5% from the 2007 pre-recession peak of 64.1 million.
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