Home » Breaking News » US Tourism Surge and Visa Waiver Policy Expansion: 22 Million International Tourists Hit New Record, China Lagging Behind
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
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The global business travel industry is bouncing back from the pandemic and entering 2024 with strong momentum. The majority of travel buyers have seen an increase in bookings and spending in 2023 and expect sustained growth in the coming year with a focus on sustainable practices within their companies. Nearly 60% of travel buyers are optimistic about increased travel activity in the coming year, with two-thirds predicting an increase in business travel expenses. However, industry experts predict challenges including rising travel costs, economic uncertainty, delayed corporate budget allocations and possible travel disruptions. Additionally, nearly half of travel buyers are adjusting their travel policies and programs in response to the shift to remote and hybrid work models.
The outlook comes from the Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) latest Business Travel Outlook Survey, which garnered insights on the current state of business travel and future expectations from travel buyers, suppliers and other stakeholders around the world. The survey, the 33rd in GBTA’s continuing series, involved more than 700 business travel professionals from 41 countries.
On the economic front, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that U.S. GDP will grow steadily from approximately $27.36 trillion in 2023 to $41.65 trillion by 2034. This growth underscores the broader economic stability and potential of the United States in the coming years.
In the United States alone, approximately 1.3 million business trips occur every day, with the average business traveler taking 6.8 trips per year. A look at key statistics shows the breadth of corporate business travel: domestic and international corporate travel spending will reach $269.3 billion in 2021, with domestic business trips reaching 371 million in 2022. By 2026, total business trips are projected to grow to 483 million.
China’s border control authorities recorded 35.5 million foreigners entering and leaving the country in 2023, according to the State Immigration Administration.
ITA’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) projects that international visitor numbers to the United States will increase to 62.8 million in 2023. The number of international visitors entering the United States more than doubled from 22.28 million in 2021 to 50.87 million in 2022. Additionally, in May 2023, the United States welcomed 5,369,628 international visitors, a 26% increase from May 2022.
Countries eligible for visa-free travel to the United States:
United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan.
Top business travel destinations in the United States are:
New York City: The financial center of the world, hosting numerous conferences and corporate events. Las Vegas: Known as the trade fair capital of the United States, with excellent meeting facilities and entertainment options. San Francisco: A global technology and innovation center closely tied to Silicon Valley. Chicago: Popular for its central location and world-class convention facilities. Washington DC: Important for government business travel. Boston: Known for its focus on academics, healthcare, and technology. Los Angeles (LA): Favorable climate and dynamic economy attract business travelers. Seattle: Popular for major technology companies and a vibrant startup scene. Houston: Known for its energy sector and top medical and research institutions. Atlanta: A major transportation hub with a booming and diverse economy. Dallas: A major city for finance, healthcare, and technology. Orlando: Attracts business travelers with its large convention facilities and diverse entertainment. San Antonio: Emerging as a business hub with modern amenities and a unique cultural environment. San Diego: Vibrant biotechnology and healthcare sectors and favorable environment.
Top 10 most powerful countries in 2024
USA, China, Russia, Germany, UK, South Korea, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The revival of US tourism: a major economic powerhouse on the road to recovery
The economic impact is significant as the US prepares for a recovery in international tourism. According to the US Travel Association’s (USTA) latest semi-annual travel forecast, international visitors contributed a staggering $180 billion to the US economy in 2019, far more than the world’s most visited country, France, which earned about $61 billion from 90 million visitors that year. Despite the dip caused by the pandemic, the USTA expects a full recovery by 2025.
Cities such as Las Vegas and New York are not only increasing their global appeal with dynamic marketing strategies, but also leveraging iconic events such as Coachella, the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras to attract audiences from around the world. Additionally, the allure of the vast U.S. National Parks system, with 63 parks covering approximately 54 million acres (an area roughly the size of the United Kingdom), continues to capture the world’s attention.
Taryn Scher, founder of TK Public Relations, highlights the proactive efforts these destinations make to create lasting brand resonance.Similarly, economic destination expert Tim Leffel praises the U.S. for being more diverse than the country as a whole, with unparalleled diverse landscapes and culturally distinct cities such as New Orleans, New York, Santa Fe, Alaska and Florida.
Popular destinations:
Glacier National Park, Maui, Grand Canyon National Park, Honolulu – Oahu, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Olympic National Park, Kauai, Moab, Lake Tahoe.
Tags: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, China, countries with visa-free travel on US passports, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, tourism news, travel industry news, travel news, UK, USA, visa-free travel, world travel news
