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Fewer foreign travelers choose the U.S.

July 08, 2008 | Hospitality Industry

Complicated security requirements, unwelcoming customs agents and a lackluster international marketing campaign are driving down the number of foreign tourists even as the slumping dollar is making the U.S. a more affordable vacation option.

According to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, the United States had 51 million international visitors in 2000, more than 7 percent of the 682 million international arrivals worldwide. But as those travelers jumped to 846 million in 2006, the U.S. saw roughly the same number of visitors as it used to—dropping its share to 6 percent.

The U.S. share of international tourism dollars has slipped too, though the U.S. still drew more money than any other country in 2006 and more than it did in 2000. From 16 percent of the market in 2000, or $82.4 billion, the U.S. took in 12 percent of the $733 billion worldwide tourism market, or $86 billion in 2006.

Major destinations such as Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, Miami, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston all saw 20 percent to 34 percent fewer travelers in 2006 compared with 2000. Of the top 10 cities, only New York saw more visitors in 2006 than in 2000, with a 9 percent increase to 6.2 million arrivals, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

Get the full story at the Seattle Post Intelligencer

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