WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Commerce today revealed that 75.6 million international visitors came to the United States in 2016 for business, medical, education and leisure purposes. The visitors collectively spent $244.7 billion across the country.
Compared to 2015, visitor arrivals decreased by 2 percent and visitor spending decreased 1 percent. It was the first decline in visitors since 2009. Preliminary data for 2017 indicate an uptick in visitors.
In 2016, travel and tourism was the largest services export for the United States, comprising 33 percent of services exports and 11 percent of exports overall.
China ($33 billion), Mexico ($20.2 billion), India ($13.6 billion), and South Korea ($8.6 billion) all experienced increases in both spending and visitations. China was up 15 percent in the number of arrivals and 9 percent in spending; South Korea was up 12 percent in visitations and 4 percent in spending; Mexico was up 2 percent in visitations and 3 percent in spending; India increased 4 percent in arrivals and 14 percent in spending. The remaining top markets experienced declines.
The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics. For more monthly travel and tourism-related trade data dating back to 1999, click here.
