The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) has unveiled its 2024 Q2 Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT), providing an in-depth look at travel patterns, preferences, and key statistics for both inbound and outbound air travellers in the United States. With robust year-over-year growth, the findings reveal a dynamic resurgence in global travel, underlining the United States’ enduring appeal as a premier destination and the increasing wanderlust of American travellers.
Inbound Air Travel to the United States
The second quarter of 2024 recorded a staggering 12 million international visitor arrivals to the United States, an 8.3% increase from the same period in 2023. This included 2.4 million arrivals from Canada, 799,000 from Mexico, and a substantial 8.8 million from overseas.
Top Source Markets
The United Kingdom led the charge as the largest overseas market, contributing 993,000 visitors, followed by India (672,000), Germany (493,000), France (455,000), and Brazil (444,000). Collectively, these markets represented 35% of total overseas arrivals to the United States.
Popular Destinations
The allure of iconic U.S. states remained strong, with New York (3.1 million visitors), California (2.6 million), and Florida (2.4 million) topping the list of most-visited states. Nevada and Texas also saw notable numbers, welcoming 1.2 million and 932,000 international travellers, respectively.
Travel Motivations and Activities
Vacation and leisure continued to dominate as the primary purpose of travel, accounting for 53% of international arrivals, 24% came to visit friends and relatives, and 19% travelled for business.
Popular activities among international visitors included:
- Shopping (80%)
- Sightseeing (75%)
- Exploring National Parks/Monuments (35%)
- Visiting Art Galleries/Museums (29%)
- Immersing in Small Towns/Countryside (28%)
Outbound Air Travel from the United States
On the outbound front, the second quarter of 2024 saw 20.3 million Americans taking to the skies for international adventures, marking an 8.4% increase compared to Q2 2023. This included 1.5 million trips to Canada, 3.5 million to Mexico, and an impressive 15.3 million to overseas destinations.
Top Destinations
The United Kingdom emerged as the top overseas destination, hosting 1.9 million American travelers, closely followed by Italy and France (each receiving 1.4 million), the Dominican Republic (1.2 million), and Spain (995,000). Together, these destinations accounted for 45% of total overseas departures.
Home States of Outbound Travelers
California, New York, and Florida were the primary states of residence for outbound travellers, contributing 2.2 million, 1.6 million, and 1.3 million travellers, respectively. Texas and New Jersey featured prominently, with 1.2 million and 781,000 travellers departing for international destinations.
Travel Purpose and Activities
Vacation and leisure again topped the list, driving 62% of outbound travel, 26% visiting friends and relatives and 7% for business purposes.
Americans embraced diverse experiences abroad, engaging in activities such as:
- Sightseeing (83%)
- Shopping (72%)
- Exploring Small Towns/Countryside (48%)
- Visiting Historic Locations (45%)
- Joining Guided Tours (41%)
A Robust Travel Ecosystem
The findings underscore a dynamic recovery in global travel and tourism. The United States continues to shine as a global hub, with its appeal extending across diverse markets. Simultaneously, American travellers are embracing global exploration with renewed enthusiasm, contributing to revitalising the international travel industry.
Written by: Jason Smith
