| 1998 Profile Of Overseas Travelers To The U.S. - Inbound Reported From "Survey Of International Air Travelers (IFS) |
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Residence of Travelers to the U.S. |
Arrivals |
Percent of Total Overseas Arrivals |
|
TOTAL OVERSEAS |
23,698,000 |
100% |
Western Europe |
10,274,000 |
43% |
United Kingdom |
3,975,000 |
17% |
Germany |
1,902,000 |
8% |
France |
1,013,000 |
4% |
Italy |
611,000 |
3% |
Netherlands |
490,000 |
2% |
Switzerland |
411,000 |
2% |
Spain |
326,000 |
1% |
Sweden |
301,000 |
1% |
Ireland |
232,000 |
1% |
Belgium |
230,000 |
1% |
Austria |
186,000 |
1% |
Eastern Europe |
400,000 |
2% |
Caribbean |
1,161,000 |
5% |
Bahamas |
252,000 |
1% |
Jamaica |
218,000 |
1% |
Dominican Republic |
195,000 |
1% |
South America |
2,957,000 |
12% |
Brazil |
909,000 |
4% |
Venezuela |
541,000 |
2% |
Argentina |
524,000 |
2% |
Colombia |
368,000 |
2% |
Chile |
179,000 |
1% |
Peru |
155,000 |
1% |
Central America |
697,000 |
3% |
Guatemala |
163,000 |
1% |
Costa Rica |
156,000 |
1% |
Asia (Far East) |
6,724,000 |
28% |
Japan |
4,885,000 |
21% |
Peoples Republic of China/Hong Kong |
422,000 |
2% |
Taiwan |
386,000 |
2% |
South Korea |
364,000 |
2% |
India |
211,000 |
1% |
Oceania |
639,000 |
3% |
Australia |
461,000 |
2% |
New Zealand |
157,000 |
1% |
Middle East |
587,000 |
2% |
Israel |
270,000 |
1% |
Africa |
258,000 |
1% |
|
Overseas Traveler Characteristics |
All Overseas Visitors |
All Leisure Visitors |
All Business Visitors |
|
Total Number of Travelers |
23,698,000 |
15,238,000 |
6,991,000 |
|
Advance Trip Decision |
|||
Average Number of Days |
68.4 |
83.2 |
35.5 |
Median Number of Days |
30.0 |
60.0 |
20.0 |
|
Advance Airline Reservation |
|||
Average Number of Days |
43.6 |
55.7 |
19.8 |
Median Number of Days |
28.0 |
30.0 |
10.0 |
|
Means of Booking Air Trip |
|||
Travel Agent |
69% |
71% |
63% |
Airlines Directly |
12% |
11% |
11% |
Company Travel Department |
8% |
4% |
22% |
Tour Operator |
7% |
10% |
2% |
|
Information Sources* |
|||
Travel Agent |
62% |
63% |
61% |
Friends / Relatives |
18% |
22% |
7% |
Airlines |
15% |
14% |
16% |
Travel Guides / Timetables |
11% |
15% |
3% |
Tour Operator / Company |
9% |
13% |
3% |
Corporate Travel Department |
9% |
4% |
23% |
Newspapers / Magazines |
7% |
9% |
2% |
State / City Travel Office |
6% |
7% |
5% |
Personal Computer |
8% |
9% |
6% |
|
Use of Pre-Paid Package |
|||
Yes |
22% |
32% |
5% |
No (Independent) |
78% |
68% |
95% |
|
If Package Used, Type of Package* |
|||
Air / Lodging |
17% |
25% |
3% |
Guided Tour |
8% |
11% |
2% |
Air / Lodging / Tour |
5% |
8% |
1% |
Air / Rental Car |
6% |
8% |
2% |
Air / Lodging / Bus |
4% |
6% |
1% |
Air / Lodging / Rental Car |
4% |
5% |
1% |
Air / Lodging / Bus / Tour |
3% |
4% |
1% |
|
Use of Prepaid Lodging as Part of Package |
|||
Yes |
81% |
83% |
71% |
No |
19% |
18% |
30% |
Mean Number of Nights |
7.5 |
7.4 |
8.3 |
Median Number of Nights |
5.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
Advance Package Booking |
|||
Mean Number of Days |
69.2 |
71.3 |
46.6 |
Median Number of Days |
40.0 |
40.0 |
25.0 |
|
If Pre-Booked Lodging, Pre-Booked Through* |
|||
Travel Agent |
34% |
41% |
26% |
Company Travel Dept. |
8% |
4% |
22% |
Tour Operator |
7% |
10% |
2% |
Hotel/Motel Directly |
7% |
8% |
8% |
Business Associate |
6% |
2% |
16% |
Friend/Relative |
5% |
5% |
3% |
|
Travel Companions* |
|||
Traveling Alone |
35% |
21% |
59% |
Family / Relatives |
27% |
36% |
8% |
Spouse |
26% |
35% |
11% |
Friends |
13% |
17% |
4% |
Business Associates |
9% |
4% |
21% |
Tour Group |
3% |
4% |
1% |
|
Travel Party Size (Persons) |
|||
Adults Only |
91% |
86% |
98% |
Adults and Children |
9% |
14% |
2% |
Average Party Size |
1.6 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
Median Party Size |
1.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
|
Main Purpose of Trip |
|||
Leisure / Recreation / Holiday |
49% |
77% |
6% |
Business / Professional |
24% |
7% |
83% |
Visit Friends / Relatives |
17% |
12% |
4% |
Convention / Conference |
6% |
3% |
6% |
Study / Teaching |
2% |
1% |
1% |
|
Purpose of Trip* |
|||
Leisure / Recreation / Holiday |
64% |
100% |
25% |
Visit Friends / Relatives |
32% |
29% |
20% |
Business |
30% |
11% |
100% |
Convention / Conference |
9% |
5% |
15% |
Study / Teaching |
5% |
3% |
4% |
|
Type of Accommodations* |
|||
Hotel or Motel |
84% |
86% |
91% |
Average Number of Nights |
7.7 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
Median Number of Nights |
5.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
Private Home |
30% |
29% |
22% |
Average Number of Nights |
17.0 |
14.7 |
14.3 |
Median Number of Nights |
9.0 |
10.0 |
7.0 |
Other |
4% |
5% |
3% |
Mean Number of Nights |
18.9 |
17.3 |
21.5 |
Median Number of Nights |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
|
Nights Spent in the U.S. |
|||
Average Number of Nights |
15.4 |
14.2 |
12.9 |
Median Number of Nights |
8.0 |
9.0 |
7.0 |
|
First International U.S. Trip |
|||
First Time Visitors |
23% |
28% |
11% |
Repeat Visitors |
77% |
72% |
89% |
|
U.S. Trips in Last 12 Months |
|||
Mean Number of Trips |
2.2 |
1.7 |
3.5 |
Median Number of Trips |
1.0 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
|
U.S. Trips in Last 5 Years |
|||
Mean Number of Trips |
6.9 |
4.8 |
12.3 |
Median Number of Trips |
3.0 |
2.0 |
8.0 |
|
Number of States Visited* |
|||
One State |
66% |
67% |
57% |
Two States |
20% |
18% |
25% |
Three or More States |
15% |
15% |
18% |
Average Number of States |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
Median Number of States |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
Number of Destinations Visited |
|||
Average Number of Destinations |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
Median Number of Destinations |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
|
Transportation Used in the U.S.* |
|||
Taxi |
41% |
39% |
51% |
Rented Auto |
36% |
39% |
38% |
Airline in the U.S. |
28% |
26% |
36% |
Company or Private Auto |
27% |
23% |
29% |
City Subway / Bus |
20% |
24% |
13% |
Bus between Cities |
11% |
14% |
5% |
Rail between Cities |
8% |
7% |
7% |
|
Port of Entry |
|||
Miami |
14% |
15% |
17% |
New York |
14% |
14% |
17% |
Los Angeles |
11% |
11% |
14% |
Honolulu |
9% |
14% |
1% |
San Francisco |
5% |
4% |
7% |
Agana, Guam |
4% |
7% |
0% |
Orlando & Orlando / Sanford |
4% |
6% |
1% |
Chicago |
5% |
3% |
7% |
Newark |
5% |
4% |
7% |
Washington Dulles |
2% |
2% |
3% |
Atlanta |
3% |
2% |
4% |
Boston |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Detroit |
2% |
1% |
2% |
|
U.S. Destinations Visited* |
|||
New England |
7% |
5% |
9% |
Massachusetts |
5% |
4% |
6% |
Boston |
4% |
4% |
6% |
Middle Atlantic |
25% |
23% |
32% |
New York |
22% |
22% |
26% |
New York City |
21% |
21% |
25% |
New Jersey |
4% |
2% |
6% |
Pennsylvania |
3% |
2% |
4% |
Philadelphia |
2% |
1% |
2% |
East North Central |
9% |
5% |
15% |
Illinois |
5% |
4% |
9% |
Chicago |
5% |
4% |
9% |
Ohio |
2% |
1% |
3% |
West North Central |
2% |
1% |
4% |
South Atlantic |
35% |
36% |
36% |
Florida |
26% |
29% |
21% |
Miami |
14% |
14% |
15% |
Orlando |
12% |
17% |
5% |
Tampa / St. Petersburg |
3% |
4% |
1% |
Ft. Lauderdale |
2% |
3% |
2% |
Washington, DC (metro area) |
6% |
6% |
7% |
Georgia |
3% |
2% |
5% |
Atlanta |
2% |
2% |
4% |
North Carolina |
2% |
1% |
3% |
Virginia |
2% |
1% |
2% |
East South Central |
2% |
1% |
3% |
West South Central |
7% |
5% |
11% |
Texas |
5% |
3% |
9% |
Houston |
2% |
1% |
4% |
Dallas / Ft. Worth |
2% |
1% |
3% |
Louisiana |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Mountain |
12% |
14% |
11% |
Nevada |
8% |
10% |
5% |
Las Vegas |
8% |
10% |
5% |
Arizona |
4% |
4% |
3% |
Phoenix |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Colorado |
2% |
2% |
3% |
Utah |
2% |
2% |
1% |
Pacific |
27% |
25% |
33% |
California |
25% |
24% |
30% |
Los Angeles |
15% |
16% |
15% |
San Francisco |
11% |
12% |
12% |
San Diego |
3% |
4% |
3% |
Anaheim |
2% |
3% |
2% |
San Jose |
2% |
1% |
5% |
Washington |
2% |
2% |
3% |
Seattle |
2% |
2% |
3% |
Pacific Islands |
16% |
24% |
3% |
Hawaiian Islands |
12% |
17% |
3% |
Oahu / Honolulu |
9% |
14% |
2% |
Maui |
2% |
2% |
0% |
Guam |
4% |
7% |
0% |
Atlantic Islands |
0% |
1% |
1% |
|
Leisure / Recreational Activities* |
|||
Shopping |
89% |
92% |
82% |
Dining in Restaurants |
83% |
83% |
86% |
Sightseeing in Cities |
45% |
54% |
29% |
Amusement / Theme Parks |
33% |
42% |
16% |
Visit Historical Places |
33% |
39% |
23% |
Visit Small Towns / Villages |
30% |
35% |
17% |
Water Sports / Sunbathing |
26% |
35% |
11% |
Touring the Countryside |
24% |
29% |
14% |
Visit National Parks |
21% |
25% |
11% |
Cultural / Heritage Sights |
19% |
23% |
11% |
Art Gallery / Museum |
20% |
22% |
16% |
Guided Tours |
17% |
23% |
8% |
Nightclub / Dancing |
13% |
14% |
14% |
Concert / Play / Musical |
13% |
14% |
10% |
Casinos / Gambling |
11% |
14% |
7% |
Golf / Tennis |
8% |
9% |
8% |
Attend Sports Events |
6% |
6% |
5% |
Cruises |
7% |
9% |
3% |
Ethnic Heritage Sights |
5% |
6% |
3% |
Visit American Indian Communities |
4% |
5% |
2% |
Camping / Hiking |
4% |
5% |
2% |
Environmental / Ecological Excursions |
4% |
4% |
2% |
Hunting / Fishing |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Snow Skiing |
2% |
2% |
1% |
|
Main Factors Involved in Airline Choice |
|||
Airfare |
26% |
30% |
16% |
Convenient Schedule |
17% |
15% |
23% |
Safety Reputation |
12% |
13% |
8% |
Non-Stop Flight |
9% |
8% |
10% |
Mileage Bonus / Frequent Flyer Program |
10% |
9% |
14% |
Previous Good Experience |
7% |
6% |
7% |
Employer Policy |
4% |
3% |
8% |
Loyalty to Carrier |
4% |
4% |
6% |
In-Flight Service Reputation |
3% |
3% |
2% |
|
Type of Airline Ticket |
|||
Economy / Tourist / Coach |
72% |
78% |
55% |
Executive / Business |
16% |
9% |
35% |
Discount / Group Fare |
5% |
6% |
3% |
First Class |
3% |
2% |
5% |
Frequent Flyer Award |
3% |
3% |
2% |
Frequent Flyer Upgrade |
2% |
1% |
4% |
Non-Revenue Passenger |
1% |
2% |
1% |
Don't Know |
4% |
5% |
2% |
|
Seating Area |
|||
Economy / Tourist / Coach |
79% |
87% |
57% |
Executive / Business |
18% |
11% |
36% |
First Class |
4% |
3% |
7% |
|
Average Total Trip Expenditures |
|||
Per Travel Party |
$5,038 |
$5,124 |
$5,467 |
Per Visitor |
$3,126 |
$2,666 |
$4,312 |
|
Average Expenditures in the U.S. |
|||
Per Travel Party |
$2,529 |
$2,769 |
$2,438 |
Per Visitor |
$1,569 |
$1,441 |
$1,923 |
Per Visitor Per Day |
$102 |
$102 |
$149 |
|
Average Expenditures by Category (Per Visitor) |
|||
Lodging |
$439 (28%) |
$331 (21%) |
$743 (47%) |
Gifts / Souvenirs |
$333 (21%) |
$360 (23%) |
$303 (19%) |
Food / Beverages |
$293 (19%) |
$289 (18%) |
$318 (20%) |
Transportation |
$208 (13%) |
$188 (12%) |
$286 (18%) |
Entertainment |
$154 (10%) |
$184 (12%) |
$112 (7% |
Other |
$118 (8%) |
$67 (4%) |
$131 (8%) |
U.S. Airport |
$24 (2%) |
$22 (1%) |
$29 (2%) |
|
Trip Expenses Payment Method |
|||
Credit Cards |
46% |
41% |
61% |
Cash |
40% |
41% |
31% |
Travelers' Checks |
12% |
16% |
6% |
Debit Cards |
2% |
2% |
3% |
|
Sex & Age of Traveler |
|||
Male Adults |
65% |
59% |
83% |
Female Adults |
35% |
41% |
17% |
Average Age of Male (Years) |
42.1 |
41.5 |
42.3 |
Average Age of Female (Years) |
37.7 |
36.7 |
38.2 |
|
Occupation |
|||
Manager / Executive |
34% |
27% |
60% |
Professional / Technical |
31% |
31% |
31% |
Clerical / Sales |
10% |
13% |
3% |
Student |
6% |
7% |
2% |
Homemaker / Housewife |
6% |
7% |
1% |
Retired |
6% |
7% |
0% |
Craftsman / Factory Worker |
4% |
4% |
1% |
Government / Military |
3% |
3% |
1% |
|
Annual Household Income |
|||
Average Household Income |
$80,700 |
$74,400 |
$100,000 |
Median Household Income |
$65,300 |
$58,800 |
$88,800 |
|
Notes: |
|
|
All numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand. Country estimates are only listed if they generated at least 150,000 overseas visitors. |
|
|
All percentages listed in this profile can be converted into estimated numbers by multiplying the percentage by 23,698,000 (total overseas travelers to the U.S.); 15,238,000 (total leisure travelers); or 6,991,000 (total business travelers). |
|
|
Business travelers are defined as the respondents who stated their purpose of trip was business/professional. Leisure travelers are defined as the respondents who stated their purpose of trip was leisure/recreation/holidays/sightseeing. Multiple purposes of trip are allowed. |
|
|
* |
Multiple response. |
|
n/a |
Information not available. |
|
Sources: |
|
|
Tourism Industries, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. |
|
|
Publication Date: |
May 1999 |