World video travel guide

NewsUnited States • 2013-05-08

Select the country and object's type International Visitors Spent $14.4 Billion in the United States in March 2013 First Quarter U.S. Travel and Tourism Exports Contribute $43 Billion to the U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank highlighted new data today that shows spending by international visitors to the United States in March 2013 totaled more than $14.4 billion, an increase of nearly 3 percent when compared to last year. International visitors spent $43 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the first quarter of 2013. The data release coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week, celebrated each year to recognize the positive impact the industry has on our economy.

“International travel and tourism represents our country’s largest services export,” said Deputy Secretary Blank. “So far this year, international visitor spending in the United States has markedly outpaced U.S. spending abroad by more than $13 billion, which continues our momentum from 2012’s record-setting year. Likewise, last week’s jobs report showed continued strong job growth in the leisure and hospitality industry. Travel and tourism is an important sector of our economy, which is why we are continuing to increase our efforts to attract more international tourists to vacation in the United States.”

Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $11 billion during March. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel. Fares received by U.S. carriers (and U.S. vessel operators) from international visitors also increased by nearly 3 percent to $3.4 billion for the month, an increase of $70 million when compared to March 2012. Overall, the United States enjoyed a favorable balance of trade for the month of March in the travel and tourism sector, with a surplus of $4.2 billion.

Travel and tourism-related industries as a whole support nearly 8 million American jobs. President Obama’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which was announced a year ago, aims to attract more than 100 million international tourists per year by 2021, visitors that would spend an estimated $250 billion per year, supporting more jobs and spurring economic growth in communities across the country.

Increasing U.S. travel and tourism will not come at the expense of national security. The President’s plan for common sense immigration reform includes a number of proposals to support his commitment to increasing U.S. travel and tourism while maintaining our nation’s security. Specifically, the President’s immigration proposal reforms the Visa Waiver Program to strengthen law enforcement cooperation while facilitating more efficient trade and tourism to the United States, securely streamlines visa and foreign visitor processing, and strengthens and improves infrastructure at ports of entry. These priorities are reflected in recently introduced bipartisan immigration reform legislation, which the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin considering this week.

To learn more about Commerce’s ongoing efforts to promote international travel and tourism, visit http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/.

RSS RSS All news

 

Related objects

Alabama

Regions, areas, large resorts Alabama

Some cities of Alabama still keep a spirit and a subtle charm of Old American South - a land of aristocrats-planters and endless cotton fields

Alaska

Regions, areas, large resorts Alaska

Alaska is the land of wild, primeval nature, snowy mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, bare islands, dense forests, tundra. Cold winters and hot springs; the richest sources of mineral and fuel resources

Arizona

Regions, areas, large resorts Arizona

Deserts, mountains, canyons, rivers, craters, and fossilized forest - all of these can be seen only in State of Arizona in southwest of the United States

Arkansas

Regions, areas, large resorts Arkansas

Nature is the main attraction of Arkansas. There are 5 parks within the system of National parks of the U. S. and 47 parks belong to the state of Arkansas

California

Regions, areas, large resorts California

California is so-called «The Golden State» of the United States. It is amazingly diverse in natural and cultural features

Colorado

Regions, areas, large resorts Colorado

Mountain State of Colorado is rich in beautiful cities, national parks, rivers and lakes, canyons and waterfalls - expanse for tourism

Connecticut

Regions, areas, large resorts Connecticut

Owing to the rich cultural life and close neighborhood of New York, Connecticut holds the leadership among the main tourist centers of the U. S.

Delaware

Regions, areas, large resorts Delaware

Tourist will find in the state of Delaware picturesque shores of the Delaware Bay, endless expanses of the Ocean, the majestic capital of the state

Florida

Regions, areas, large resorts Florida

Warm climate, an abundance of excellent beaches, theme and national parks, all possibilities to have fun attract tourists to the state of Florida all the year round

Georgia

Regions, areas, large resorts Georgia

The Peach State, the Empire State of the South or just Georgia is famous for its state song "Georgia on My Mind" recorded by incomparable Ray Charles.

Guam

Regions, areas, large resorts  
Guam

Hawaii

Regions, areas, large resorts Hawaii

On Hawaii there is everything you dreamed of: beautiful beaches and trendy discos for lovers of entertainment, virgin jungle and wild gardens for nature lovers, magnificent coral reefs and the best surfing points for fans of sports recreation

Idaho

Regions, areas, large resorts Idaho

Lunar craters in Idaho - are the most amazing 75 sq. miles on North American continent - extraordinarily beautiful place

Illinois

Regions, areas, large resorts Illinois

The state of Illinois can be divided into two parts: the raucous industrial city of Chicago and agricultural Illinois itself with its settled life

Indiana

Regions, areas, large resorts Indiana

Indianapolis, the capital of the state of Indiana is the main tourist attraction and a Mecca for those who love baseball and are keen on cars.

Iowa

Regions, areas, large resorts Iowa

They often call Iowa the "Food Capital of the World", but its economy, culture, and landscape are diverse

Kansas

Regions, areas, large resorts Kansas

The main attractions of Kansas are 4 national historic sites - military forts of XIX cent. and the National Reserve (the Flint Hills), the continent's largest remaining tract of tallgrass

Kentucky

Regions, areas, large resorts Kentucky

The state of Kentucky is known for bourbon and whiskey distilling, tobacco and horse racing. The most famous horse racing is the Kentucky Derby

Louisiana

Regions, areas, large resorts Louisiana

The main tourist center of Louisiana, is New Orleans - a stunning city, numerous districts of which offer a wide variety of national cultures and cuisines

Maine

Regions, areas, large resorts Maine

The state of Maine, located on the very north of U. S. Atlantic coast is relatively sparsely populated, but thickly covered with forests - a perfect place for nature lovers

Maryland

Regions, areas, large resorts Maryland

Tourists come to Maryland to relax on beaches of the Ocean - City or resort towns of the Deep Creek Lake. Different forms of active recreation, excellent sea food restaurants

Massachusetts

Regions, areas, large resorts Massachusetts

The state of Massachusetts is home to the U. S. famous museums and art galleries, Harvard and Cambridge Universities

Michigan

Regions, areas, large resorts Michigan

Michigan, famous for its professional sports teams, is a paradise for active holiday lovers, from hikers and hunters to fishermen and yachtsmen

Minnesota

Regions, areas, large resorts Minnesota

There are more than 10 thousand lakes in the state of Minnesota. It is noteworthy that rivers flow from Minnesota in three directions: north - to Hudson Bay, east - to the Atlantic and south to the Gulf of Mexico. Great fishing

Mississippi

Regions, areas, large resorts Mississippi

The state of Mississippi is heavily forested. Its name comes from the Mississippi River. Golf, tennis and boating are year round sports. Jackson is the state's capital and largest city

Montana

Regions, areas, large resorts Montana

“A State of Treasures” – Montana - will please tourists with a lot of natural, cultural and historical attractions

Nevada

Regions, areas, large resorts Nevada

The state of Nevada attracts lovers of gambling, mountain resorts, quiet recreation and fishing on lake shores

New Hampshire

Regions, areas, large resorts New Hampshire

Mountainous-lake region of New Hampshire in New England is the oldest resort in America. People come to this amazing place all the year round

New Mexico

Regions, areas, large resorts New Mexico

Any traveler will appreciate the mountainous state of New Mexico: numerous monuments of ancient culture, 20 Indian settlements, excellent ski resorts

New York

Regions, areas, large resorts New York

State of New York is saturated with mountains, rivers, lakes and pine forests. Besides that, there are excellent beaches in the Long Island district and on the Atlantic’s coasts

New York City

Cities New York City

New York City - skyscrapers, museums, galleries, theaters, exhibition halls, parks, cafes and restaurants - all these one can find in the largest city of the world

North Carolina

Regions, areas, large resorts North Carolina

In the state of North Carolina there are many rivers and foothills, beautiful cities with museums and parks, hotels and resorts on the Atlantic shores

North Dakota

Regions, areas, large resorts North Dakota

The state of North Dakota attracts tourists with rodeo and the developed infrastructure of ski resorts

South Dakota

Regions, areas, large resorts South Dakota

The state of South Dakota is famous by music festivals, cowboy rodeos, speed-racings. Fields for golf are rightly considered to be among the U. S. best

State of Wyoming

Regions, areas, large resorts State of Wyoming

High mountain state of Wyoming always attracts mountaineers and ecotourism enthusiasts

Tennessee

Regions, areas, large resorts Tennessee

State of Tennessee attracts tourists by the highest mountain Klingmans-Dome (6,643 feet) and splendid local whiskey Jack Daniels

Texas

Regions, areas, large resorts Texas

Texas, located at the south of the North American continent, is the second largest U.S. state. It is the industrial and agrarian leader of the country

United States Virgin Islands

Regions, areas, large resorts United States Virgin Islands

United States Virgin Islands attracts tourists from all over the world with their beautiful tropical nature, splendid sand beaches, fantastic coral forests, excellent diving places

Utah

Regions, areas, large resorts Utah

State of Utah provides tourists with all opportunities for excellent vacations: the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River, the Great Salt Lake, natural forest reserves

Vermont

Regions, areas, large resorts Vermont

Most of the territory of Vermont is covered by mountains, hills and valleys. There are many lakes and ponds. High tourist season is in summer, fall

Virginia

Regions, areas, large resorts Virginia

The state of Virginia is a birthplace of 8 presidents of the U. S. George Washington was born in the town of Mount Vernon. His plantation home is well preserved and now is a museum

Washington (U.S. state)

Regions, areas, large resorts Washington (U.S. state)

State of Washington attracts tourist with resorts of the Pacific coast, beautiful cities, national parks and the Cascade Ranges

Washington, D.C.

Regions, areas, large resorts Washington, D.C.

Formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D. C., is the capital of the United States. It is famous for impressive monuments and world class art museums

West Virginia

Regions, areas, large resorts West Virginia

The state of West Virginia has a lot of attractions: National Historical Park Harpers Ferry; SPA Resorts White Sulphur Springs and Berkeley Springs

Wisconsin

Regions, areas, large resorts Wisconsin

Wisconsin is the state of undulating hills covered with forests, and deep lakes - more than 8,5 thousand, the largest of which is Vinnebego. The climate is humid

Appalachian Trail

Extreme tourism and Walking Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail - is a popular route for hiking with the length of 3. 5 thousand kilometers. One will need a whole season to overcome it

Rocky Mountains

Mountains, caves, canons Rocky Mountains

In the Rocky Mountains are concentrated many of the United State’s national parks, which attract tourists from different countries all the year round