The overall U.S. outbound market grew by one percent in 2007 compared to annual 2006 figures, enabling it to post the fourth successive record for total U.S. outbound travel.
In 2007, 64.0 million U.S. residents traveled abroad, surpassing the 2006 record of 63.6 million. The growth came entirely in travel to the overseas regions, 31.2 million, up four percent. Travel to Mexico and Canada declined by one percent and three percent, respectively.
Spending by U.S. residents traveling abroad (imports) also set the fourth successive record in 2007 at $104.7 billion, up five percent from 2006. Spending by U.S. travelers within foreign countries (travel payments) totaled $76.2 billion and spending on air transportation, via foreign air carriers (passenger fare payments), totaled $28.5 billion in 2007.
The top five countries where U.S. spent their 2007 travel dollars were: Mexico ($11.1 billion), United Kingdom ($10.5 billion), Canada ($7.6 billion), Germany ($5.9 billion) and Japan ($4.7 billion).
U.S. travelers set records for 2007 travel spending in: Mexico, Germany, Japan, Italy, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Netherlands, Argentina, and South Africa.
Source: Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, U.S. Department of Commerce
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