U.S. Department of Commerce Sponsored Travel Trade Barometer Survey

Indicates Travel to the U.S. from the U.K. to Remain Flat while Travel from Germany will Show Solid Growth

. July 12, 2012

July 11, 2012

PROJECTED BOOKINGS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND GERMANY TO THE UNITED STATES

UNITED KINGDOM Travel Trade Barometer: British Travel Projected to Remain Flat

United Kingdom tour operators reported in the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored United Kingdom Travel Trade Barometer (as of February 29 - April 13, 2012) that, on average, projected bookings from the United Kingdom to the United States would remain flat through the second quarter of 2012, compared to last year.
The slump in the United Kingdom was squarely put on the shoulders of the global economy and the economy in the United Kingdom. Other concerns included the level of promotion by other long-haul destinations, entry and exit requirements and airfare.

GERMANY Travel Trade Barometer: Projected to Register Solid Growth

German tour operators reported in the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Germany Travel Trade Barometer (as of February 29 - April 13, 2012) that bookings for travel to the United States in the first half of 2012 would remain strong.
Travel was projected to continue to increase through the summer catalog period. The top motivator listed for travel from Germany to the United States over the next six months was the economy in Germany. The U.S. level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses was a very close second, followed by the exchange rate.

Over the next six months, the top deterrent listed for travel from Germany to the United States was airfare, followed by the level of promotion by other long-haul destinations.

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, you are encouraged to visit http://www.trade.gov/nei/index.asp

BACKGROUND AND SOURCE:
Travel Market Insights (www.travelmi.com) 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.

The Travel Trade Barometer survey is conducted on a quarterly basis in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and the People's Republic of China and is available through subscription. Discussions with industry partners to add Brazil, Australia, South Korea and India are in progress. For more information, please contact Scott C. Johnson at Travel Market Insights on 518-668-2559.

Reports sent to subscribers include additional information, such as:

Bookings - looking at the past quarter and the next two quarters for U.S. and competitive regional destinations; Short term bookings for more than five specific travel segments; and
Over 15 motivators or deterrents for travel to the United States. Specific (proprietary) destination data is also available through a subscription.

For more information on the Travel Barometer Program, please visit http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/barometer/index.html

The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System.

For more travel and tourism-related trade data dating as far back as 1960, please visit: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/reports/recpay/index.html.

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