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International Travel To U.S. Increases In First Quarter
August 19, 2010

Travel bookings for the top international visitor markets to the U.S. rose in the first quarter, the U.S. Commerce Department reported this week.

Canadian tour operators said that bookings for first quarter of this year increased 10 percent to 15 percent compared with the same period last year. Further, nearly all Canadian tour operators projected an increase in bookings for second quarter, compared with the same period last year. The exchange rate was listed as the top motivator for expanded travel to the U.S. in the next six months.

Japanese tour operators said that bookings for first quarter increased 1 percent to 3 percent compared with the first three months of last year. Nearly all of the tour operators projected an increase in bookings for second quarter as well. The top motivator cited for travel from Japan to the U.S. in the next six months is the favorable exchange rate followed by deregulation of charter flights and the level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses.

U.K. travel companies said that bookings for the first quarter of this year increased 4 percent to 9 percent compared with the same period in 2009. Second-quarter bookings are projected to be about the same as the second quarter 2009. Lodging rates ranked as the top motivator for increased travel to the U.S.

German tour operators stated that bookings to the U.S. in the first quarter rose 1 percent to 3 percent compared with last year. Bookings in the second quarter of 2010 were projected to be higher as well.

The level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses was the motivator listed for stronger bookings. The top rated deterrent for travel was listed as natural disasters, reflecting early concerns for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Source :- http://www.aviationnews.net