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Foreign visitor spending in US sets disappointing record
Foreign visitors spent record amounts in the US last year but their numbers were not up to some expectations, according to government figures.
Foreign tourists spend $104.8 billion on lodging and other travel expenses, or up 12% from 2004, the government said.
The number of foreign visitors to the US was up 7% over the previous year, but it fell short of 2000’s peak.
“Given the explosive growth of the global travel and tourism market, the United States could and should be doing even better,” Jay Rasulo, chairman of the Travel Industry Association of America, told USA Today.
The US has been losing its share of international travelers for the past few years.
Mr Rasulo and others have been lobbying the government to promote more travel here.
Tourism officials in general blame foreigners’ reluctance to visit here to tough airport security measures, sometimes burdensome visa requirements and general rising of anti-American sentiment.
But other countries have also been aggressively marketing for tourists even as the US government spends very little.
The US in 2004 ranked as the third-most-visited country, trailing France and Spain. China was fourth.
Report by David Wilkening
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