The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that international visitors spent an estimated $13.8 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of August - $442 million more (3%) than was spent in August 2011. Travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, more than $1.0 billion a month during the first eight months of 2012.

“Today’s data show that America remains one of the top destinations in the world for international visitors,” said Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. “Collectively, these visitors are spending record levels during their stay, which helps the U.S. travel and tourism industry employ more than 7.6 million Americans.”

• Travel Receipts: Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $10.5 billion during August, an increase of 5 percent when compared to last year. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel.
• Passenger Fare Receipts: Fares received by U.S. carriers (and U.S. vessel operators) from international visitors decreased by nearly 3 percent to $3.2 billion for the month, following a decrease of nearly 1 percent in July. U.S carriers have, however, received nearly $26.0 billion from international visitors during the first eight months of 2012, the strongest year-to-date performance on record.

International visitors have spent an estimated $109.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date (January through August), an increase of more than 8 percent when compared to the same period last. In fact, the U.S. travel and tourism industry is on pace for another record-setting year.

Americans have spent nearly $80.1 billion abroad year to date (up 10%) - resulting in a $29.1 billion balance of trade surplus for travel and tourism through the first eight months of 2012.