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In a remarkable turn of events, September 2023 witnessed a resurgence in the U.S. travel and tourism industry as international visitors poured a staggering $18.8 billion into the American economy. This represents a remarkable 24% surge compared to the same month in 2022 and marks the highest monthly spending since December 2019, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures, unveiled by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), demonstrate that monthly U.S. travel and tourism exports are now within striking distance of their previous peak, reached in March 2018 when international visitors spent an impressive $20.8 billion while exploring the United States.

Conversely, Americans displayed an unprecedented enthusiasm for international travel in September 2023, collectively spending a record-setting $18.3 billion abroad. This generated a remarkable balance of trade surplus for the United States, amounting to $494 million. The surplus has extended for six consecutive months, indicating a substantial turnaround in the country’s trade balance concerning travel and tourism-related goods and services.

Year to date (January through September 2023), international visitors have injected more than $156.0 billion into the U.S. economy through travel and tourism-related goods and services. This represents a staggering 32% increase compared to the same period in 2022. On average, international visitors have contributed nearly $572 million to the U.S. economy daily during this time frame.

The data underscores the significance of the U.S. travel and tourism industry in the broader economic context. During September 2023, travel exports accounted for a substantial 22.3% of U.S. services exports, showcasing the industry’s vital role in supporting the American economy. Furthermore, it comprised 7.2% of all U.S. exports, including goods and services.

When examining the composition of monthly spending by international visitors, it becomes evident that various segments have contributed significantly to the impressive figures:

Travel Spending: International visitors spent $10.8 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services within the United States during September 2023. This marked a remarkable 32% increase compared to the previous year, when spending stood at $8.2 billion. These expenditures include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation, and other items essential to foreign travel. Travel receipts alone accounted for a substantial 57% of the total U.S. travel and tourism exports for the month.
Passenger Fare Receipts: U.S. carriers witnessed a boost in revenue, with international visitors contributing $3.0 billion in passenger fare receipts during September 2023. This represented an 11% increase from the previous year when the figure stood at $2.7 billion. Passenger fare receipts constituted 16% of the total U.S. travel and tourism exports for the month and reflected the expenditures of foreign residents on international flights operated by U.S. air carriers.
Medical/Education/Short-Term Worker Spending: Educational and health-related tourism, combined with expenditures by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers in the United States, reached $5.0 billion in September 2023. This marked a significant 17% increase from September 2022, when spending amounted to $4.3 billion. These categories, comprising medical tourism, education-related spending, and short-term worker expenses, contributed a substantial 27% to the total U.S. travel and tourism exports for the month.

The remarkable upswing in spending by international visitors is a testament to the resilience of the U.S. travel and tourism industry and its vital role in the nation’s economic recovery. As the industry continues to rebound, it is poised to make a substantial contribution to the overall economic growth and prosperity of the United States.