2000 PROFILE OF U.S. RESIDENT TRAVELER VISITING OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS

ITA - Office of Travel and Tourism Industries

2001 PROFILE OF U.S. RESIDENT TRAVELER VISITING OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS
REPORTED FROM: SURVEY OF INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVELERS

printing note: set your print mode to landscape and/or reduce your margin settings if this document is too wide for your printer.
Posted Jan 2003

Download data (.csv)

U.S. RESIDENT TRAVELERS TO OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS: ⁽¹⁾
Total Number of Travelers** Region/State/City of Residence		All U.S. Travelers 25,249,000
New England		9%
Massachusetts		5%
	Boston	3%
Connecticut		3%
Middle Atlantic		28%
New York		20%
	New York City	15%
	Nassau	3%
New Jersey		5%
Pennsylvania		4%
	Philadelphia	2%
East North Central		8%
Illinois		3%
	Chicago	2%
Michigan		2%
Ohio		2%
West North Central		3%
South Atlantic		20%
Florida		7%
	Miami	2%
D.C. Metro Area		5%
Virginia		4%
Georgia		3%
	Atlanta	3%
Maryland		2%
North Carolina		2%
West South Central		6%
Texas		5%
	Houston	2%
Mountain		5%
Colorado		2%
Pacific		19%
California		16%
	Los Angeles	4%
	San Francisco	3%
	San Jose	2%
	Oakland	2%
Washington		2%
	Seattle	2%
Pacific Islands		1%

¹ Region/state and city estimates are only listed if they comprise at least 2% of the 25,249,000
U.S. residents visiting overseas destinations in 2001.

** NOTE: Percentages listed in this profile can be converted into estimated numbers by multiplying the percentage by 25,249,000 (total U.S. Residents visiting overseas destinations), 20,199,000(80.0% Leisure/Visit Friends/Relatives) and 7,928,000 (31.4% Business/Convention).

U.S. RESIDENT TRAVELER CHARACTERISTICS
Total Number of Travelers**	All U.S. Travelers 25,249,000	ForLeisure & VFR 20,199,000	For Business & Conv. 7,928,000
Advance Trip Decision:
Average Number of Days	84.7	95.6	50.4
Median Number of Days	60.0	60.0	30.0
Advance Airline Reservation:
Average Number of Days	52.3	59.8	29.5
Median Number of Days	30.0	32.0	15.0
Means of Booking Air Trip:
Travel Agent	52%	52%	52%
Airline Directly	21%	23%	14%
Personal Computer	10%	11%	7%
Company Travel Department	9%	4%	25%
Tour Operator	4%	5%	1%
Information Sources*:
Travel Agency	48%	48%	50%
Personal Computer	25%	28%	21%
Airline	24%	26%	21%
Friends, Relatives	15%	18%	6%
Company Travel Dept.	9%	4%	24%
Travel Guides/Timetables	7%	8%	3%
Tour Company	6%	6%	2%
Newspapers/Magazines	3%	3%	1%
State/City/Travel Office	2%	3%	2%
Use of Prepaid Package:
Yes	14%	17%	3%
No	86%	83%	97%
Pre-Booked Lodging*:
Responded - Yes	56%	51%	72%
Sources for Booking Lodging*:
Travel Agent	21%	20%	21%
Hotel/Motel	10%	11%	9%
Company Travel Dept.	8%	3%	21%
Tour Operator	6%	7%	2%
Business Associate	5%	2%	15%
Friend/Relative	5%	5%	3%
Travel Companions*:
Traveling Alone	41%	35%	61%
Spouse	28%	34%	14%
Family/Relatives	23%	27%	8%
Friends	11%	13%	4%
Business Associates	6%	2%	18%
Tour Group	3%	3%	1%
Travel Party Size: (persons)
Adults Only	93%	91%	98%
Adults and Children	7%	9%	2%
Average Party Size	1.5	1.6	1.3
Median Party Size	1.0	1.0	1.0
Main Purpose of Trip:
Leisure/Recreation/Holidays	39%	49%	7%
Visit Friends/Relatives	29%	37%	7%
Business	25%	9%	78%
Study/Teaching	2%	2%	1%
Convention/Conference	2%	1%	7%
Purpose of Trip*:
Leisure/Recreation/Holidays	57%	71%	27%
Visit Friends/Relatives	42%	53%	23%
Business	29%	15%	94%
Study/Teaching	5%	4%	4%
Convention/Conference	4%	3%	12%
Religion/Pilgrimages	3%	2%	1%
Type of Accommodations*:
Hotel, Motel	66%	61%	81%
Average Number of Nights	8.6	8.7	8.5
Median Number of Nights	7.0	7.0	6.0
Private Home	41%	48%	27%
Average Number of Nights	15.8	15.1	17.3
Median Number of Nights	10.0	10.0	9.0
Other	6%	6%	6%
Mean Number of Nights	22.2	18.0	16.3
Median Number of Nights	7.0	7.0	6.0
Nights Outside the U.S.:
Average Number of Nights	15.9	16.1	14.5
Median Number of Nights	10.0	11.0	8.0
First International Trip:
First Time Visitors	6%	6%	3%
Repeat Visitors	94%	94%	97%
Number of International Trips in Past 12 Months:
Mean Number of Trips	3.2	2.5	5.1
Median Number of Trips	2.0	2.0	3.0
Number of International Trips in Past 5 Years:
Mean Number of Trips	12.3	9.3	20.6
Median Number of Trips	6.0	5.0	12.0
Number of Countries Visited*:
One Country	78%	78%	74%
Two Countries	14%	14%	17%
Three or More Countries	8%	8%	9%
Average (Countries)	1.4	1.4	1.4
Median (Countries)	1.0	1.0	1.0
Number of Destinations Visited*:
One Destination	56%	55%	54%
Two Destinations	22%	22%	25%
Three or More Destinations	22%	23%	21%
Average (No. of Destinations)	1.9	1.9	1.8
Median (No. of Destinations)	1.0	1.0	1.0
Transportation Outside the U.S. *:
Taxi/Cab/Limousine	46%	43%	58%
Airline between Cities	36%	35%	41%
Company or Private Auto	28%	28%	28%
Rented Auto	22%	23%	21%
City Subway/Tram/Bus	21%	22%	20%
Railroad between Cities	19%	20%	17%
Bus between Cities	14%	16%	7%
Port-of-Entry:
New York City	25%	26%	19%
Los Angeles	9%	9%	11%
San Francisco	8%	8%	10%
Atlanta	8%	7%	10%
Miami	6%	6%	6%
Washington, D.C.	6%	5%	8%
Chicago	5%	5%	6%
Boston	5%	5%	4%
Newark	3%	3%	3%
Philadelphia	3%	3%	3%
Dallas/Ft. Worth	2%	2%	2%
Seattle	2%	2%	2%
Detroit, MI	2%	2%	2%
Houston	2%	2%	2%
Charlotte, NC	2%	2%	1%
Honolulu	2%	2%	2%
International Destinations Visited*:
Europe	45%	45%	50%
Western Europe	44%	43%	48%
United Kingdom	13%	13%	17%
France	10%	11%	10%
Italy	8%	9%	6%
Germany	8%	7%	10%
Spain	4%	4%	3%
Netherlands	3%	3%	4%
Ireland	3%	3%	2%
Switzerland	3%	3%	4%
Greece	2%	2%	1%
Austria	2%	2%	1%
Eastern Europe	4%	4%	4%
Caribbean	16%	19%	6%
Dominican Republic	5%	6%	2%
Jamaica	5%	6%	2%
Bahamas	2%	3%	0%
South America	9%	8%	9%
Brazil	2%	2%	4%
Central America	6%	6%	4%
Costa Rica	2%	2%	1%
Africa	2%	2%	3%
Middle East	4%	4%	5%
Turkey	2%	2%	1%
Asia	17%	16%	24%
Japan	4%	3%	7%
Hong Kong	3%	3%	5%
P.R. of China	3%	2%	4%
Republic of China (Taiwan)	3%	2%	4%
Republic of Korea (South)	2%	2%	4%
India	2%	2%	2%
Philippines	2%	2%	2%
Thailand	2%	2%	2%
Oceania	5%	5%	5%
Australia	3%	3%	4%
New Zealand	2%	2%	1%
Leisure/Recreational Activities*:
Dining in Restaurants	86%	85%	91%
Shopping	75%	79%	68%
Visit Historical Places	53%	59%	40%
Sightseeing in Cities	45%	50%	33%
Visit Small Towns/Villages	44%	50%	27%
Touring the Countryside	35%	40%	23%
Cultural Heritage Sights	32%	36%	22%
Art Gallery, Museum	29%	33%	21%
Nightclub/ Dancing	24%	26%	17%
Water Sports/Sunbathing	22%	26%	11%
Guided Tours	18%	21%	8%
Concert, Play, Musical	14%	17%	11%
Ethnic Heritage Sites	13%	14%	8%
Amusement/Theme Parks	10%	12%	5%
Visit National Parks	10%	12%	6%
Casinos/Gambling	7%	8%	4%
Golf/Tennis	6%	7%	7%
Cruises, 1 or More Nights	6%	7%	2%
Camping, Hiking	5%	6%	3%
Environmental/Ecological Sights	5%	5%	3%
Attend Sporting Events	4%	5%	3%
Hunting/Fishing	3%	3%	2%
Snow Skiing	2%	2%	1%
Average Total Trip Expenditures:
Per Travel Party	$4,357	$3,943	$5,096
Per Visitor	$2,881	$2,459	$4,018
Average International Airfare:
Per Travel Party	$2,051	$1,617	$2,786
Per Visitor	$1,418	$1,057	$2,214
Average Package Price:
Per Travel Party	$4,722	$4,744	-
Per Visitor	$2,179	$2,172	-
Average Expenditures Outside the U.S.:
Per Travel Party	$1,930	$1,853	$2,148
Per Visitor	$1,276	$1,156	$1,694
Per Visitor Per Day	$80	$72	$117
Trip Payment Method
Credit Cards	55%	51%	69%
Cash	33%	35%	23%
Travelers Checks	7%	8%	4%
Debit Cards	5%	6%	4%
Main factor in Airline Choice:
Airfare	27%	29%	18%
Convenient Schedule	18%	15%	22%
Mile Bonus/Frequent Flier Program	16%	17%	18%
Non-Stop Flight	12%	12%	11%
Previous Good Experience	8%	8%	8%
Safety Reputation	4%	4%	3%
Loyalty to Carrier	4%	4%	5%
Employer Policy	3%	1%	8%
Type of Airline Ticket*:
Economy/Tourist/Coach	67%	72%	54%
Executive/Business	17%	11%	34%
Frequent Flier Award	8%	10%	4%
Frequent Flier Upgrade	5%	4%	9%
First Class	3%	3%	6%
Discount/Group Fare	3%	3%	1%
Non-revenue	3%	3%	2%
Seating Area on Flight:
Economy/Tourist/Coach	72%	79%	50%
Executive/Business	22%	17%	40%
First Class	6%	5%	9%
Sex and Age of Traveler:
Male Adults	60%	54%	77%
Female Adults	40%	46%	23%
Average Age of Male (years)	45.3	45.6	45.2
Average Age of Female (years)	43.0	43.1	42.6
Occupation:
Professional/Technical	39%	39%	40%
Manager/Executive	30%	25%	49%
Retired	9%	11%	2%
Student	6%	7%	2%
Homemaker	5%	6%	1%
Clerical/Sales	5%	5%	2%
Craftsman/Factory Worker	3%	4%	1%
Government/Military	2%	2%	2%
Annual Household Income:
Average	$108,900	$103,500	$130,400
Median	$97,500	$91,100	$122,500

* Multiple Response.

** NOTE: Percentages listed in this profile can be converted into estimated numbers by multiplying
the percentage by 25,249,000 (total U.S. Residents visiting overseas destinations), 20,199,000
(80.0% Leisure/Visit Friends/Relatives) and 7,928,000 (31.4% Business/Convention).

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, "In-Flight Survey," January 2003