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Record influx of visitors to U.S. in 2008
Last year, 58 million international visitors came to the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. That's an increase of nearly 4 percent from 2007. To sweeten it up a bit, 13 of the top 25 arrivals markets saw new records set. In the last month of the year, nearly 4 million people came here from abroad – down 7 percent. The fourth quarter was down 6 percent year-over-year.So, we saw most of the action in the first nine months of 2008.
The first three quarters were grand, last year. Seventeen of the top 20 arrivals markets were up from 2007, with one flat and two down. Visitors from Canada were growing at a double-digit rate, though trips from Mexico were down. The rest of the world was up 9 percent for the first nine months of 2008, relative to the same period in 2007.
It all changed at the beginning of October, though. Only 12 of the top 20 countries sent more visitors than in the first quarter of 2007. Canada and Mexico were down, and visits from the rest of the world dropped by 3 percent. You can check the arrival stats monthly by clicking here.
Canada sent 18.9 million people to the United States last year, most of them by land. But, air arrivals grew at a faster rate – 8 percent compared to 6 percent. Another 13.8 million people visited the United States from Mexico. The total is down 4 percent from 2007, with air arrivals down 9 percent.
A total of 25.3 million people visited from the rest of the world – i.e., countries other than Canada and Mexico. While this is up 6 percent from 2007, it's still 2 percent below the record set in 2000. Since 2003, the number of guests arriving from overseas is up 33 percent. Western Europe shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, that part of the world brought 12.2 million tourists to the United States, a 12 percent gain year-over-year. This group comprised 48 percent of all overseas arrivals. But, they slowed down in December (by 3 percent). France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Norway set arrival records.
- Germany: 17 percent
- France: 25 percent
- Italy: 23 percent
- Netherlands: 20 percent
- Spain: 27 percent
- Ireland: 8 percent
- Sweden: 18 percent
- Switzerland: 15 percent
And, there's a hell of a lot more of this available, thanks to the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Travel & Tourism Industries.
Check out some of these wacky laws, place names and signs from around the world!
Filed under: North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bob Wong Mar 30th 2009 2:20AM
Why do so many people keep coming to America if we are so bad? America is still the best in the world and don't let Obama tell you otherwise. He lying for political gain!
FOXY Mar 29th 2009 9:58PM
THEY COME HERE BECAUSE THE DOLLAR IS WORTHLESS AND IT'S CHEAP FOR THEM, THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN'T TRAVEL ARE AMERICANS. OBAMA IS THE SOCIALIST PRESIDENT AND HE IS A VERY DANGEROUS MAN.
BigB Mar 30th 2009 6:26AM
Why do people on AOL turn everything into a political statement? The dollar's lack of value happened a long time before Obama, Foxy, and what the hell is Bob Wong talking about? What does "Obama lying for political gain" have to do with tourism?
What a bunch of
BigB Mar 30th 2009 6:44AM
...by the way, Foxy, the value of the dollar has gone UP since Obama was elected.
Alex Mar 30th 2009 3:50AM
The value of the dollar DROPPED notably when our "genius" (but devoid of common sense) Treasury Secretary spoke the other day! Enough deception is being perpetrated by the Media. We don't need biased comments made by those who fell for the deception of His Fraudulency B. Hussein Obama on the Internet doing it too ... thank you!
BigB Mar 30th 2009 9:21AM
The value of the dollar shifts daily; of course now and then it drops. In general, it is still higher than when George W. Bush was elected. The FACT is that the value of the dollar dropped 41 percent during Bush's presidency. That's not a biased comment, that's a FACT. That has nothing to do with "the media", or our current president. You Rush Limbaugh automatons know how to repeat his baloney, but the FACTS are the FACTS.
Living in NYC, I get to see all the foreign tourists that come here to spend their money because GWB made it fall 41 percent. 41 Percent! Look if up, instead of talking out of your butt!!!
BMagna423 Mar 30th 2009 9:22AM
Oops, sorry - I meant to say that the dollar right now, under President Obama, is worth more than when Bush left office, not when Bush was elected. From the time Bush was elected to the time he left office, the dollar dropped 41 percent - that's still true.
This is why tourism has been up - because during the Bush presidency, the value of the dollar dropped 41 percent. I'm gonna keep repeating this FACT - the dollar dropped 41 percent during the Bush presidency.
rlbuild123 Mar 30th 2009 6:47AM
Every1 needs to watch a documentary called; AMERICA-Freedom to Fascism researched and produced by Aaron Russo. It is on Youtube and here is the link to video 1 of 11, once you are there watching it you will see all the other parts in the related videos column. I highly recommend watching it if you can stomach this level of education.
Rdog Mar 30th 2009 6:47AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R-seszVA-0 This is the url link to watch this video on freedom to fascism.
Jane Mar 30th 2009 6:47AM
The tourists are visiting us b/c our dollar is so damned weak. We can thank our prior president for that.
jay mosley Mar 30th 2009 6:47AM
America is the best country in the world. i have been to quite a few in Europe and other parts of the world. There is no lace like the good olg U.S.of A.
Leigh Mar 30th 2009 6:47AM
Jane is exactly right. For those of you who are rusty on your Economics 101. When the Fed cuts the interest rate, although it helps with paying mortgages on houses, IT WEAKENS OUR CURRENCY!!!!
If you look back to the Fed's recent record, they have CONSISTENTLY CUT THE INTEREST RATE.
Sorry Conservatives, there is no way to deny that this is the liberals fault.
Pamela Mar 30th 2009 1:36AM
There are alot of wonderful aspects to our country but honestly the boasting that we live in the greatest country on earth is not only arrogant it's misleading. Every country has something wonderful to offer. Different people and cultures make the world go round. People want to visit our country for the different things it has to offer. Same way we want to visit other countries for the different things they have to offer.
We are not better than everybody else and the day we stop thinking we are maybe we can actually address the problems our country has that keep us from being the greatest country on earth.
BigB Mar 31st 2009 7:32AM
Boy, it got awfully quiet on this message board. See - the dittoheads think they can do like their boy Rush - talk out of their butts, with no facts to back them up, and no one to refute their crap. Rush can get away with it, because, bully that he is, he NEVER has a guest who disputes him and he NEVER goes on a panel show. The reason for that is he would be RIPPED TO SHREDS. Unfortunately for the dittoheads, when they try to pull what Rush does, somebody can very easily pull out a FACT to shut them up.
There is no refuting the fact that the dollar suffered a 41 percent drop against the Euro while Bush was president. This has nothing to do with media spin, or the present president and his middle name. It's Georgie-boy's to own. And, while it was happening, Rushbo said nothing. Rushbo never ever said one negative thing about George W during his whole 8-year reign. And he can bluster and bloviate all he wants, he can't change that FACT.