The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that for the first eight months of 2010, 40.2 million international visitors travelled to the United States, a 12 percent increase over the same period in 2009. Spending reached $88.2 billion for the period.

In August 2010, 6.4 million international visitors travelled to the United States, an increase of 11 percent over August 2009. August 2010 registered the eleventh straight month of increases in U.S. arrivals.

International visitors spent $88.2 billion during the first eight months of 2010, 10 percent more than the same period in 2009. In August 2010, international visitors spent $11.5 billion, 15 percent more than in August 2009. August 2010 marks the eighth consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism-related exports.

Highlights
* In the first eight months of 2010, 17 of the top 20 countries posted increases in visitation to the United States.
* The United Kingdom, Venezuela and Ireland were the only countries out of the top 20 that registered declines.
* Resident visitation from 12 of the top 20 countries registered double-digit increases: Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Italy, Australia, the People’s Republic of China, India, Colombia, Argentina and Sweden.
* In August 2010, 18 of the top 20 countries posted increases in resident visitation.
* Venezuela and Bahamas registered the only declines, down one percent and five percent, respectively.
* Twelve of the top 20 countries registered double-digit increases: Mexico, Japan, France, Italy, South Korea, the People’s Republic of China, Australia, Brazil, India, Colombia, Argentina and Switzerland.
International Arrivals to United States for August 2010 and Year to Date (YTD) 2010
* Canadian resident visitation (2.6 million) was up eight percent in August. Visits (14.0 million) increased 12 percent YTD.
* In August 2010, air arrivals (533,000) were up seven percent and land arrivals (2.1 million) were up nine percent.
* YTD, air arrivals (4.7 million) were up 14 percent and land arrivals (9.2 million) were up 11 percent.
* Mexican resident visitation (1.1 million) was up 20 percent for the month. Visits (8.9 million) increased 12 percent YTD.
* Air arrivals (140,000) were up eight percent for the month and land arrivals (962,000) were up 23 percent.
* YTD, air arrivals (1.1 million) were up 15 percent and land arrivals (7.8 million) were up 11 percent.

Overseas Resident Visitation:
* In August 2010, overseas resident visitation (2.7 million) was up 10 percent over August 2009.
* August YTD 2010, overseas resident visits (17.3 million) were up 12 percent compared to the same period 2009.
* Compared to 2008, August 2010 overseas resident visits were up three percent.
* August YTD 2010, overseas resident visits increased one percent compared to the first eight months of 2008.
* Resident visitation from Western Europe increased seven percent for the month and was up three percent YTD.
* Resident visitation from 17 Western European markets was up for the month. Fifteen markets were up YTD.
* Nine of the top 10 markets registered increases in August (United Kingdom +1%, Germany +5%, France +14%, Italy +17%, Spain +8%, Netherlands +0.3%, Switzerland +12%, Belgium +2%, and Sweden +14%).
* Resident visits from the United Kingdom dropped two percent YTD.
* Eastern European resident visits increased eight percent for the month, and grew two percent YTD.
* Resident visitation from Asia increased 21 percent in August and was up 27 percent YTD.
* Nine of the top 10 Asian markets registered increases in August (Japan +16%, South Korea +34%, People’s Republic of China +50%, India +13%, Taiwan +10%, Hong Kong +2%, Singapore +15%, Vietnam +19%, and Thailand +2%).
* Resident visits from South America increased 10 percent for the month and grew 19 percent YTD.
* In August 2010, resident visits from Brazil, Colombia and Argentina were up 13 percent, 12 percent and 24 percent, respectively. U.S. resident visitation from Venezuela decreased one percent for the month.
* YTD, resident visits from Brazil increased 36 percent, resident visits from Colombia grew 19 percent, and resident visits from Argentina were up 21 percent. YTD, resident visits from Venezuela dropped five percent.
* Resident visits from Central America were down three percent for the month and increased one percent YTD.
* Resident visitation from the Caribbean decreased seven percent in August but grew three percent for the year.
* Resident visits from the Bahamas, the region’s top market, accounting for 27 percent of all visits, decreased five percent in August 2010.
* YTD resident visits from the Bahamas increased nine percent.
* Oceania resident visitation was up 29 percent in August and increased 26 percent YTD.
* Australia accounted for 81 percent of all resident visits from the region in August 2010. Resident visits from Australia increased 29 percent for the month and grew 27 percent YTD.
* Resident visitation from the Middle East increased seven percent in August and was up 11 percent YTD.
* Israel’s resident visitation increased three percent in August and was up one percent YTD.
* African resident visitation increased six percent in August 2010 and increased 8 percent YTD.

Top Ports
In August 2010, visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 82 percent of all overseas visits-two and one-half percentage points lower than last year. The top three ports (New York JFK, Miami and Los Angeles) accounted for 38 percent of all overseas arrivals, one percentage point below August 2009. Twelve of the top 15 ports posted increases in arrivals in August 2010. Seven of these ports posted double-digit increases. This upturn in the total of overseas arrivals reverses the majority of the declines registered in August 2009.