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*An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
(OTTI)*

## Highlights of August 2006 Year-to-Date International Arrivals to the United States

• International visitation was up seven percent for August, and five
percent for the year.

• Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) are down one percent
for the year. This reflects an increase of one percent in August, which
reverses what had been a negative trend.

• Canadian visitation is up eight percent for the month, and over six
percent for the year, showing growth every month.

• Arrivals from Mexico (traveling to interior U.S. points) were up a
robust 26 percent for the year. Land crossings accounted for this
increase since air arrivals were up a modest three percent year to date.
Air arrivals from Mexico were down one percent for August.

-   Western Europe experienced no growth in August, however this
    reversed what had been monthly declines in arrivals throughout most
    of 2006. Arrivals were down four percent for the year, an
    improvement from the July year-to-date. Arrivals from Eastern Europe
    continued to grow compared to 2005, up five percent for the year.
    Eastern Europe posted 36 consecutive months in arrivals growth.

• Arrivals from the United Kingdom were down one percent in August, the
smallest decline this year, contributing to a four percent decline for
the year. U.K. visitors accounted for 43 percent of all Western European
arrivals year-to-date.

• German arrivals were up two percent in August, reversing three months
of declines and contributing to a three percent decline year-to-date.
Visitation from France and Italy continued to decline through August and
are down 16 percent and eight percent, respectively for the year.

• Visitation from Asia grew two percent in August, reversing four months
of declines and is flat year-to-date. Japanese arrivals were also flat
in August and down four percent year-to-date. Japan accounted for 59
percent of all Asian visitors, down from 63 percent in 2005. Arrivals
from India, People's Republic of China/Hong Kong and South Korea grew by
20 percent, seven percent and four percent, respectively for August.

• Arrivals from South America declined one percent in August but remain
up three percent year-to-date. Growth in visitation was noted from
Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela for August and the year. Brazil is the
top arrivals market for South America, accounting for 28 percent of
arrivals from the continent. Visitation from Central America declined
two percent while arrivals from the Caribbean grew six percent for the
year.

• Travel from Oceania increased four percent year-to-date driven by
Australian arrivals, up six percent in August and five percent for the
year.

• Arrivals from the Middle East and Africa increased by five percent and
declined two percent, respectively, in August.

• Note: Travelers from many countries requiring U.S. visas (the non-Visa
Waiver markets) still posted traffic gains.

To see the top markets and regional data, please go to:

<http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2006-I-001/index.html>

### In addition, the following is a summary of top port arrival activity year-to-date. 

### TOP PORTS January -- August 2006 

# 

Arrivals to the USA by port-of-entry are tracked on a monthly basis.
Department of Commerce has arrival data on more than 40 U.S.
ports-of-entry from all world regions and 30 countries. A brief analysis
is presented on the top 15 ports for overseas arrivals during 2006.

Overseas arrivals (which excludes Canada and Mexico) were down one
percent for the first eight months of 2006. Arrivals for the top 15
ports-of-entry accounted for 83 percent of all overseas arrivals.

The top three ports of entry (New York JFK, Miami and Los Angeles)
accounted for 36 percent of all overseas arrivals, about the same as the
market share percentage registered in 2005.

Four of the top fifteen ports posted increases in arrivals for the first
eight months of 2006. San Francisco moved to sixth position and Detroit
moved up to 14^th^ position in 2006. Changes (increases/decreases,
shifts in position) noted by each port may reflect changes in visitation
to a nearby destination.

To access top port activity, go to:

<http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2006-I-001/top_ports.html>

SOURCE:

The monthly *Summary of International Travel to the U.S*. report has
approximately 30 tables that provide data on monthly and year-to-date
arrivals to the country. The report provides data on approximately 90
countries each month and more than 40 ports of entry. Numerous breakouts
are provided by world region and country for the port tables as well.

To find out more about this program, please go to:
[http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/i94/index.html](http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/i94/index.html?ti_cart_cookie=20031103.113620.15562)

If you would like to purchase the monthly international arrivals
reports, please go to:

<http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/reports/i94/index.html>

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

Office of Travel and Tourism Industries

14^th^ & Constitution Avenue NW, Room 1003

Washington, D.C. 20230

Phone:(202) 482-0140

Fax: (202) 482-2887

Email: <Tinet_info@ita.doc.gov>