The beleaguered travel industry is showing signs of life: Foreign visitors are returning to the U.S. This year will see an upswing of 5% over 2009 as 58.2 million visit the U.S. The rebound almost offsets the 5% falloff in arrivals last year -- the first decline since 2003. Foreign visits are expected to increase another 5% in each of the next three years. Because international visitors outspend American tourists by about 4 to 1, the rebound is especially welcome to hotels, restaurants and other travel related sectors.
Leading the tourist brigades are South Americans and Asians. Trips by South Americans will be up 11% this year versus last. Brazilians and Argentines, in particular, seem keen on visiting the States. Asian visitors will increase by 9%, with China, South Korea and India leading the way. The number of Japanese visitors was down 10% last year from 2008, but will climb by 5% this year and another 5% in 2011.
Figure on a more modest flow from Europe. “The euro is taking a pounding, and so it’s much more expensive for Europeans to come here,” says Ron Erdman of the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The United Kingdom, the top U.S. overseas market, saw a decrease of 15% last year, but will see a gain of 2% this year and next. Germany and France will also post slight gains -- 1% to 2% -- this year and next.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
New York City remains the top destination for foreign visitors, but Miami has replaced Los Angeles as the No. 2 spot. Other cities popular with overseas travelers include Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Visitors are staying put once they reach the U.S. and not traveling around the country as much as they used to. “There’s less domestic travel by air, fewer car rentals, and more use of city subways, buses and taxis,” says Erdman. Cultural and historical attractions in the cities are growing in popularity.
-
The Real Cost of Streaming Live Sports in 2025Streaming your favorite team keeps getting more expensive. Here’s the true cost of sports — and how to save.
-
It Could Soon Be Harder to Get a Refund on a Flight Gone WrongThe Department of Transportation's deregulation efforts are taking aim at your rights to compensation for delays, canceled flights, lost baggage and more.
-
Cruise Lines Sue to Block Hawaii’s New Climate Tourism TaxState Tax Your vacation to the Aloha State could come at a higher price tag next year. Here’s why.
-
How AI Puts Company Data at RiskThe Kiplinger Letter Cybersecurity professionals are racing to ward off AI threats while also using AI tools to shore up defenses.
-
AI Start-ups Are Rolling in CashThe Kiplinger Letter Investors are plowing record sums of money into artificial intelligence start-ups. Even as sales grow swiftly, losses are piling up for AI firms.
-
What is AI Worth to the Economy?The Letter Spending on AI is already boosting GDP, but will the massive outlays being poured into the technology deliver faster economic growth in the long run?
-
Kiplinger Special Report: Business Costs for 2026Economic Forecasts Fresh forecasts for 2026, to help you plan ahead and prepare a budget on a range of business costs, from Kiplinger's Letters team.
-
Trump-Era Regulations Will Broaden Access to CryptoThe Kiplinger Letter The president wants to make the U.S. the leader in digital assets.
-
How to Adopt AI and Keep Employees Happy
The Kiplinger Letter As business adoption of AI picks up, employee morale could take a hit. But there are ways to avoid an AI backlash.
-
The Rise of AI: A Kiplinger Special ReportThe Kiplinger Letter Our special report looks at the opportunities and challenges of generative AI and how its rapid move into the mainstream is impacting every aspect of our lives.
