Home » America Travel News » Global Travel Advisors Can Plan Their Trip to USA With Visa Free Travel For 41 Countries Including Schengen Nations, UK, Canada and Japan
Sunday, July 28, 2024
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With visa free travel available to citizens from 41 countries, the United States remains an accessible and appealing destination for global tourists. This ease of entry has significantly boosted the U.S. travel and tourism industry, making it easier for visitors to explore the country’s diverse attractions, from iconic cities to breathtaking landscapes. Global travel advisors can efficiently plan trips to the U.S. for their clients, leveraging the benefits of this visa-free travel policy. The resurgence in tourism highlights the United States’ status as a premier destination, fostering cultural exchange and economic growth.
The United States experienced a notable increase in inbound international visitors from 2021 to 2022, with numbers more than doubling from 22.28 million to 50.87 million. This significant rise highlights a robust recovery in the travel sector, bolstering the country’s tourism industry.
TTW Editor Mr. Anup Kumar Keshan said: “Having recently traveled to the USA for the GBTA convention in Atlanta, I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and straightforward the entire process was. From the moment I arrived, everything was well-organized, making my entry into the country hassle-free. The efficient customs and immigration procedures made it easy to start exploring the diverse and exciting attractions the USA has to offer. This seamless experience truly highlighted how welcoming and accessible the country is for travelers.”
Overseas Visitors:
Overseas travelers accounted for a large portion of the international visitors, with 9.4 million arrivals. The average overseas visitor spent $1,863 per trip, had an annual household income of $91,579, and stayed for 17.39 nights on average. Their total spending reached $17.5 billion, representing a 20.0% increase from the third quarter of 2022.
The United Kingdom was the leading source market, providing 1.13 million visitors, followed by Germany (576K), India (540K), Japan (509K), and France (481K). New York (2.151M), California (1.9M), and Florida (1.6M) were the most popular destinations.
Travel and Activities:
Most overseas travelers made their decision to visit the United States 109.2 days before the trip and booked airline reservations 78.8 days in advance. A majority (57.4%) traveled alone, with the primary reasons being vacation/holiday (59.2%), visiting friends/relatives (22.9%), and business (13.7%).
Shopping (83.0%) and sightseeing (79.6%) were the most popular leisure activities, along with visiting national parks/monuments (39.7%). The top accommodation choice was hotels or motels (71.2%), and the preferred transportation method was private or company cars (38.2%).
Canadian Visitors:
Canadian visitors also contributed significantly, with 2.1 million air arrivals. These visitors had an average annual household income of $122,769, spent $999 per trip, and stayed for an average of 7.67 nights. Their total spending amounted to $2.1 billion, a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
The top states visited by Canadian travelers were California (451K), Florida (399K), and New York (338K). Decisions to visit were typically made 80.9 days before the trip, with flights booked 59.9 days in advance.
Travel and Activities:
Among Canadian visitors, 60.5% traveled alone, with vacation/holiday (58.4%) as the primary purpose, followed by visiting friends/relatives (23.1%) and business (16.4%). Shopping (74%) and sightseeing (73.1%) were popular activities.
The preferred accommodation was hotels or motels (76.6%), while ride-sharing services (38.9%) were the most commonly used transportation.
Mexican Visitors:
Mexican air visitors totaled 844,000, with an average annual household income of $61,175. They spent $1,541 per trip and stayed for an average of 12.87 nights. Their total spending reached $1.3 billion, a significant 58.5% increase from the third quarter of 2022.
The most visited states by Mexican travelers were Texas (171K), California (167K), and Florida (145K). The decision to visit was generally made 64.4 days before the trip, with flight bookings occurring 42.1 days in advance.
Travel and Activities:
A large portion (67.6%) of Mexican visitors traveled alone, with vacation/holiday (56.0%) being the main purpose, followed by visiting friends/relatives (21.7%) and business (19.1%).
Shopping (83.4%) and sightseeing (68.7%) were the top leisure activities. Hotels or motels (62.8%) were the preferred accommodation, and private or company cars (47.7%) were the main transportation method.
International Visitor Spending in the U.S. (March 2024)
According to recent data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), international visitors spent nearly $20.1 billion on travel and tourism-related activities within the United States in March 2024. This marks a 22 percent increase compared to March 2023, nearing pre-COVID levels of monthly spending seen in 2019.
From January through March 2024, international visitors have spent close to $60.0 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services, reflecting a 23 percent rise from the same period in 2023. On average, these visitors contributed nearly $667 million per day to the U.S. economy during this timeframe.
U.S. Travel and Tourism Exports (March 2024)
In March 2024, U.S. travel and tourism exports made up 23.3 percent of the country’s services exports and 7.8 percent of all U.S. exports, including goods and services.
Composition of Monthly Spending (Travel Exports)
Travel Spending: International visitors purchased travel and tourism-related goods and services totaling $11.6 billion in March 2024, up from $8.9 billion in March 2023. This 31 percent increase includes spending on food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation, and other travel-related items. Travel receipts represented 58 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports in March 2024.
Passenger Fare Receipts: U.S. carriers received $3.5 billion from international visitors for passenger fares in March 2024, a 10 percent increase from $3.2 billion in the previous year. These receipts accounted for 17 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during the month.
Medical/Education/Short-Term Worker Spending: Spending on educational and health-related tourism, as well as expenditures by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers, reached $5.0 billion in March 2024. This represents a 13 percent increase compared to $4.4 billion in March 2023. These expenditures accounted for 25 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports in March 2024.
Economic Impact of International Travel
International travel is a crucial component of the U.S. economy. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, international visitors spent $233.5 billion in the United States, contributing nearly $640 million per day to the economy. The U.S. travel and tourism industry generated $1.9 trillion in economic output, supporting 9.5 million American jobs and accounting for 2.9% of U.S. GDP. The U.S. also received 14.5% of global international travel spending, more than any other country.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlighted that strong travel from the United States, supported by a strong U.S. dollar, continues to benefit destinations in the Americas and beyond. In 2023, robust source markets in the Americas continued to drive tourism flows and spending globally.
New York City’s Tourism Impact
New York City’s tourism industry significantly boosted the state and city economy in 2023, generating $74 billion in economic impact, with over $48 billion from direct spending (not adjusted for inflation). This activity supported over 380,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sectors—about 9% of the city’s workforce—and numerous small and minority-owned businesses across all five boroughs. Visitor spending also generated more than $6 billion in tax revenue, saving each New York City household approximately $2,000 in 2023.
New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization, released its final forecast for 2023, reporting that the city attracted 61.8 million travelers, achieving a recovery of 93% of the city’s record 2019 visitation levels.
Business Travel Recovery Overview
The latest report from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) highlights a varied recovery in business travel across different regions. In 2023, Asia Pacific emerged as the fastest-growing region with a 36% increase, followed by Western Europe at 33% and North America at 25%. The recovery was particularly strong in the U.S., Middle East and Africa, and Latin America, all of which achieved 100% or more of their 2019 spending levels. For 2024, China and the U.S. are expected to continue leading in overall business travel spending.
Survey Insights on Business Travel Trends
GBTA surveyed 4,100 business travelers from 28 countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The survey revealed an increase in overall business travel, although international travel remains below average levels. Sixty-four percent of business travelers globally reported increased spending on business travel compared to 2023. However, 37% experienced more restrictive travel policies since pre-COVID.
Payment Methods and Spending Patterns
The survey also highlighted that nearly two-thirds (61%) of global business travelers are provided with a corporate credit card for expenses. Credit card usage is especially high among North American business travelers, with nearly a third charging 100% of their trip expenses to their corporate card.
Economic Impact of Business Travel in the U.S.
In 2022, the U.S. led global business travel spending with expenditures totaling $421.1 billion, generating $119 billion in tax receipts and supporting 6 million jobs, which represented 3.5% of total U.S. employment. For every dollar spent on business travel, $1.15 was returned to the U.S. economy as net-new gross domestic product (GDP). The study also found that 38% of the direct jobs supported by business travel were in food services, 19% in accommodations, and 11% in transportation and warehousing.
Forecast and Business Travel Statistics
The GBTA forecasts that the U.S. will remain a top market for business travel spending in 2024. Although final data beyond 2022 is not yet available, estimates suggest that U.S. business travel spending in 2023 will be around 7% above 2019 levels, indicating a robust recovery. Globally, business travel spending is expected to surpass $1.5 trillion in 2024.
In 2022, 429.9 million business trips were taken within the U.S. An estimated 67% of these trips were for transient purposes such as sales, client service, government and military travel, and travel for construction or repair, while the remaining 33% were for conferences and events. Business travelers are spending more time per trip, averaging 4.1 days in 2022 compared to 3.3 days in 2017. The average spend per business trip was $632, with lodging being the largest expense category at 34% ($214).
Demographics and Travel Trends
The average age of U.S. business travelers is 44.3 years. One-third of these travelers have an annual household income below $50,000, another third between $50,000 and $100,000, and the remaining third above $100,000. “Bleisure” travel, where business and leisure trips are combined, accounted for over a third (33.8%) of all travel, with an average stay of 4.4 days. Women were more likely to add leisure components to their business travel than men in 2022.
Top Business Travel Destinations in the U.S.
The top 15 states for business travel spending accounted for 65% of total U.S. business travel expenditures. The states in descending order are California, New York, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Nevada, and Virginia. California and New York were the top markets, with $35.62 billion and $23.31 billion in spending, respectively. Notably, Nevada had the highest ratio of business travel spend to GDP, with $6 billion comprising 3.2% of the state’s GDP.
Countries that can visit USA visa free under VWP ( Visa Waiver Program)DenmarkMonacoAndorraSouth KoreaIsraelPortugalFinlandIrelandUnited KingdomLatviaLuxembourgSlovakiaSloveniaJapanSpainNew ZealandNorwayAustriaBruneiEstoniaNetherlandsGreeceLithuaniaGermanySwedenAustraliaItalySan MarinoTaiwan*IcelandSwitzerlandFranceCroatiaHungaryMaltaBelgiumPolandCzech RepublicSingaporeChileLiechtenstein
Canadians typically do not require visas to enter the United States, although there are some exceptions.
Top 3 Airports in the USA
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
As the busiest airport in the United States, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area in Georgia. It is the corporate headquarters and primary hub for Delta Air Lines, with over 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations. This makes ATL the world’s largest airline hub and America’s first mega-hub.
The airport also houses Delta’s Technical Operations Center, handling maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. In addition to Delta, ATL is a focus city for low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The airport offers international services across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. In 2023, it served over 104.6 million passengers, the highest of any airport worldwide.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport ranks as the second-busiest airport in the United States and serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and North Texas region. It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport. In 2022 and 2023, DFW was the third-busiest airport globally by aircraft movements and the second-busiest by passenger traffic, according to Airports Council International.
The American Airlines hub at DFW is the second-largest single airline hub in the world, following Delta’s hub in Atlanta. In 2023, DFW reached a new milestone by serving 81,764,044 passengers, surpassing 80 million passengers for the first time in its history.
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Denver International Airport, locally known as DIA, serves the Denver metropolitan area and the greater Front Range Urban Corridor in Colorado. It is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area and the second-largest worldwide, after King Fahd International Airport.
In 2021 and 2022, DEN was the third-busiest airport in the world and in the U.S. by passenger traffic. In 2023, it ranked as the sixth-busiest airport globally and remained the third-busiest in the United States, handling around 77.8 million passengers, a more than 12% increase from the previous year. DEN has consistently been among the top 20 busiest airports globally since 2000.
Airlines Boosting USA Travel and Tourism:
American Airlines
American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, is a major U.S. airline. It is the largest airline globally by scheduled passengers carried and revenue passenger miles. The airline operates an extensive international and domestic network, offering nearly 6,800 flights daily to almost 350 destinations in 48 countries.
The airline is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance. Its regional service is operated under the brand name American Eagle by independent and subsidiary carriers. In 2023, American Airlines served 211 million travelers.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a major U.S. airline and a legacy carrier. It holds the distinction of being the oldest operating airline in the United States and the seventh-oldest worldwide. Delta, along with its subsidiaries and regional affiliates, including Delta Connection, operates over 5,400 flights daily to 325 destinations in 52 countries across six continents.
Delta is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance and operates nine hubs, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being its largest in terms of total passengers and number of departures. It is ranked second among the world’s largest airlines by passengers carried, passenger-miles flown, and fleet size. In 2023, Delta served more than 190 million customers.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is a major U.S. airline recognized for its low-cost carrier model. Headquartered at Love Field in Dallas, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Southwest operates scheduled service to 121 destinations in the United States and ten other countries.
As of 2018, Southwest carried more domestic passengers than any other U.S. airline. It is currently the third largest airline in North America based on passengers flown. In 2023, Southwest Airlines carried approximately 137.28 million paying passengers.
Top Luxurious Hotels in the USA
The Plaza, New York City
Located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, The Plaza is a landmark in New York City known for its historic elegance and luxury. The hotel offers opulent rooms and suites, exquisite dining options, and the iconic Palm Court for afternoon tea. Its location provides easy access to Central Park, Fifth Avenue shopping, and the Broadway Theater District.
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
Situated in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, The Ritz-Carlton offers stunning views of the city skyline and luxury accommodations. The hotel features chic rooms, a rooftop pool, and a state-of-the-art spa. It also boasts fine dining at WP24 by Wolfgang Puck, providing guests with a lavish culinary experience.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii
Located on the Kona-Kohala coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai offers an unparalleled tropical paradise experience. The resort features luxurious beachfront accommodations, award-winning restaurants, and a world-class spa. Guests can enjoy seven swimming pools, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, and various water sports.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Colorado
Nestled at the base of Aspen Mountain, The St. Regis Aspen Resort is a luxury destination for ski enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. The hotel offers elegant rooms and suites with stunning mountain views, a luxurious spa, and fine dining at the Chefs Club by Food & Wine. Its location provides easy access to world-class skiing and the vibrant town of Aspen.
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles
Known as “The Pink Palace,” The Beverly Hills Hotel has been a symbol of glamour and luxury since 1912. Located on Sunset Boulevard, the hotel features lush gardens, iconic bungalows, and the legendary Polo Lounge. The hotel offers an elegant blend of vintage Hollywood charm and modern luxury, making it a favorite among celebrities and discerning travelers.
Tags: American Airlines, Canada, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, delta air lines, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, International travel, japan, Schengen, Tourism news, travel industry, Travel News, trip to USA, UK, usa, visa free, Visa free travel, visa free travel business travel
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Publish date : 2024-07-28 10:11:40
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