Washington, D.C.–International visitors spent an estimated $21.2 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of July, an increase of more than 4 percent when compared to July 2016, according to the Department of Commerce
Travel and tourism-related exports have exhibited growth each month of 2017.
International visitors spent nearly $146.3 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date (January through July 2017), an increase of 3 percent when compared to 2016.
The growth of visitor spending in the United States during 2017 reverses the drop in 2016 when monthly U.S. travel and tourism exports, as well as international arrivals, declined for nine consecutive months (April 2016 through the end of the year.)
Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $13.1 billion during July, an increase of nearly 2 percent when compared to the previous year. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel. Travel receipts accounted for 62 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during July 2017.
Fares received by U.S. carriers from international visitors totaled $3.3 billion for the month, an increase of nearly 6 percent when compared to July 2016 and the largest monthly increase since November 2014. Passenger fare receipts accounted for 16 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during the month.
Expenditures for educational and health-related tourism, along with all expenditures by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers, totaled $4.8 billion in July, an increase of 10 percent when compared to the previous year. Medical tourism, education, and short-term worker receipts accounted for 23 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during July 2017.