MEDIA RELEASE
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored China Travel Trade Barometer, a majority of the tour operators surveyed (as of June 16 – July 1, 2011) reported higher bookings in the second quarter 2011, increasing 16 to 20 percent, on average, compared to second quarter 2010. No one in the travel trade reported declining bookings.
Nearly all trade (92%) projected third quarter 2011 bookings from China to the United States to increase. More than half of the respondents projected bookings to be ‘much’ higher (52%) and 40 percent of the respondents projected bookings to be higher in the third quarter.
On fifth (19%) of the trade projected fourth quarter bookings to be ‘much’ higher and 58 percent of the trade projected bookings to be higher compared to last year. Just 15 percent of the travel trade projected bookings to be about the same, with only eight percent projecting bookings to be lower.
Over the next six months, the top motivator for travel to the United States was reported to be the exchange rate to the U.S. Dollar. Direct air service to desired locations and promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses were also listed as motivators for increasing bookings to the United States.
Visa processing time ranked as the top deterrent for travel to the United States. Pandemics and epidemics (e.g., H1N1 Flu) ranked as the second most concerning deterrent for travel to the United States over the next six months.
NATIONAL EXPORT INITIATIVE:
To improve conditions that directly affect the private sector’s ability to export and to boost employment recovery, on March 11, 2010 President Obama created the National Export Initiative (NEI).
The automation of the arrival/departure Form [CBP Form I-94W] for Visa Waiver Program travelers supports this initiative as the automated form will greatly improve the measurement and timely release of international arrival data to the United States.
To learn more about the NEI, visit www.trade.gov/nei/index.asp
JAPAN’S PROJECTED BOOKINGS
After the impact of Japan’s March 12, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis took hold, the majority of Japanese tour operators reported in the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Japan Travel Trade Barometer (as of June 11 – July 8, 2011) that bookings for travel to the United States in the second quarter 2011 would be lower (38%) and much lower (31%).
And approximately 13 percent of the travel trade projected second quarter bookings to be about the same as last year. But not all the news was bad, with just under one fifth (19%) of the trade projecting second quarter bookings to be higher than last year.
The Japanese travel trade projected summer 2011 bookings to be on par, on average, with last summer. However, the majority of the Japanese trade projected bookings to be lower (50%) and much lower (6%). Approximately one fifth (19%) of the trade projected bookings to be on par, year over year. In contrast, one quarter of the Japanese trade was more optimistic and projected bookings to be higher (19%) and much higher (6%).
The top motivator listed for travel from Japan to the United States over the next six months was the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar.
The top deterrent listed for travel from Japan to the United States over the next six months was airfare/fuel surcharges. The March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima disaster ranked second.
The economy in Japan rounded out the top three deterrents.
NATIONAL EXPORT INITIATIVE:
To improve conditions that directly affect the private sector’s ability to export and to boost employment recovery, on March 11, 2010 President Obama created the National Export Initiative (NEI). The automation of the arrival/departure Form [CBP Form I-94W] for Visa Waiver Program travelers supports this initiative as the automated form will greatly improve the measurement and timely release of international arrival data to the United States.
BACKGROUND AND SOURCE:
Travel Market Insights conducts the Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and People’s Republic of China Travel Trade Barometer programs. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, is a sponsor and was the initial developer of the barometer program.
The Barometer program is conducted with support from the U.S. Commercial Service and various Visit USA Committees and additional sponsors.
Travel Market Insights conducts the Japan Travel Trade Barometer in conjunction with the Sloan Travel and Tourism Industry Center/University of South Carolina, the National Tour Association and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.
The Japan Travel Trade Barometer program is also conducted in partnership with Japan Tourism Marketing and the Japan Visit USA Committee.
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