OVERSEAS VISITORS TO U.S. &
COLORADO 2016: CREATING
A RESEARCH-BASED
APPROACH TO
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
Ron Erdmann
National Travel & Tourism Office
Industry & Analysis
October 26, 2017
KNOWING HOW MANY CANNOT
HELP YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT
IT!
Travel Trends to the United States
Rank Origin of the Visitor
2016 $
in Mils
%
change
15/16
%
change
07/16
Total Travel Exports $244.7 -1% 70%
1 China $33.0 9% 591%
2 Canada $20.9 -8% 18%
3 Mexico $20.2 3% 21%
4 Japan $16.1 -7% 14%
5 United Kingdom $16.0 -4% 12%
6 India $13.6 14% 138%
7 Brazil $11.0 -20% 184%
8 Australia $8.7 -7% 119%
9 South Korea $8.6 4% 89%
10 Germany $8.0 -9% 42%
Top Origin Markets for
Traveler Spending (Exports) to/in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
Top 10 International Arrival Markets in 2016
Rank
Country of
Residence
2016
(Mils)
2015/16
% change
2007/16
% change
1 Canada 19.3 -7% 9%
2 Mexico 18.7 2% 29%
3 United Kingdom 4.6 -7% 2%
4 Japan 3.6 -5% 1%
5 China 3.0 15% 648%
6 Germany 2.0 -10% 34%
7 South Korea 2.0 12% 145%
8 Brazil 1.7 -24% 165%
9 France 1.6 -7% 63%
10 Australia 1.4 -7% 101%
Overseas Travelers to the U.S. compared to
Overseas Travelers Colorado 2016
Overseas visitors to the U.S & Colorado Information Sources & Trip Decision Times 2016
Information Sources
Overseas
Visitors to
CO 2016
Overseas
Visitors to U.S.
2016
Airline 49% 44%
Online Travel Agency 36% 32%
Personal Recommendation 29% 28%
Travel Agency Office 22% 20%
Travel Guides 13% 12%
Corporate Travel Department 13% 11%
Advance Trip Decision Time 120 98
Advance Airline Reservation Time 83 73
Overseas visitors to the U.S. & Colorado
Key Characteristics 2016
Characteristics
Overseas
Visitors to CO
2016
Overseas
Visitors to
U.S. 2016
First International Trip 18% 24%
Main Purpose – Vacation/Holiday 52% 59%
Main Purpose - VFR 26% 18%
Main Purpose - Business 11% 11%
Ave. Nights in the U.S./Nights in Colorado 29/13 18/-
Ave. # of states/cities visited 2.7/3.5 1.5/2.1
Percent staying in Hotel/Motel 60% 78%
Top Ports-of Entry 2016 Overseas Arrivals to the
USA & CO 2016
Overseas Visitors
to CO 2016
Overseas Visitors to
U.S. 2016
DEN – 21% JFK – 17%
LAX – 16% MIA – 13%
SFO – 9% LAX – 11%
JFK – 7% HNL – 6%
ORD – 7% SFO – 6%
DFW – 5% EWR – 5%
MIA – 5% ORD – 4%
IAD – 5% MCO – 4%
ATL – 4% GUM – 4%
SEA & IAH – 4%
The ports listed had at least a 4% share of arrivals
Transportation Used by Overseas visitors to the U.S &
Colorado 2016
Mode of Transport
Overseas
Visitors to
CO 2016
Overseas
Visitors to
U.S. 2016
Air Travel Between US Cities 66% 29%
Rented Auto 45% 33%
Auto, Private or Company 44% 33%
Taxi/Cab/Limousine 26% 31%
City Subway/Tram/Bus 28% 31%
Bus between Cities 16% 17%
Top U.S. States/Territories Visited by
Overseas visitors to the U.S. & Colorado 2016
State/Territory to CO
2016
% Share State/Territory to U.S.
2016
% Share
Colorado 100.00% New York 26.64%
California 29.00% Florida 25.38%
Nevada 18.19% California 21.87%
New York 15.48% Nevada 9.09%
Utah 14.21% Hawaii 8.37%
Arizona 11.05% Texas 4.50%
Wyoming 10.51% Massachusetts 4.37%
Florida 9.00% Guam 4.21%
Texas 7.22% Illinois 4.17%
Activities Participation of Overseas visitors to the U.S.
& Colorado 2016
Activities
Overseas
Visitors to
CO 2016
Overseas
Visitors to
U.S. 2016
Shopping 82% 86%
Sightseeing 75% 78%
National Parks/Monuments 59% 35%
Small Towns/Countryside 57% 27%
Visit Historical Locations 43% 27%
Art Gallery/Museums 33% 28%
Guided Tours 25% 23%
Cultural/Ethic Heritage Sites 23% 15%
The Quickest Way to U.S. International Tourism Information:
http://travel.trade.govIncludes International Travel Research Online
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