International visitors spent a record-breaking $142.1 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the U.S. in 2008, according to preliminary statistics released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The total represented an increase of more than 16 percent from the previous record set in 2007.
Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in this country totaled $110.5 billion for the year, an increase of 14 percent over 2007.
Airfares received by U.S. carriers and U.S. vessel operators from international visitors increased nearly 24 percent over 2007 receipts to $31.6 billion for the year.
U.S. travel and tourism exports during the opening months of 2008 were strong enough to offset a dramatic downturn in the closing months, a decline of nearly 10 percent in the fourth quarter alone, Commerce said. However, preliminary 2009 data are markedly below 2008, suggesting a significant downturn is possible for this year, the department added.
In addition, Commerce said that travel by Germans to the U.S. ended 2008 on a positive note, countering the trend of declines registered from other countries in fourth quarter 2008.
German tour operators reported that 2008 bookings gained 10 percent to 15 percent compared with 2007.
