Rising US travel numbers provide cause for cheer

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This month's news that overseas arrivals to the US are increasing steadily provides reason for optimism among duty-free operators in the region

This month's news that overseas arrivals to the US are increasing steadily provides reason for optimism among duty-free operators in the region.

The US Office of Travel and Tourism (OTTI) has reported that 3m international visitors arrived in December, a slight rise on December 2002's figure. Crucially, it is the third consecutive month of growth. Fourth quarter numbers rose 3%, and arrivals for the full year totalled 40.4m, hitting the OTTI's growth rate forecast for the year.

The results for 2003 come as a welcome relief after successive falls in arrivals in 2001 and 2002. Overseas arrivals (not including those from Canada and Mexico) totalled 1.7m in December, an increase of more than 4%. Western European visitor numbers were up by more than 4% for the month and 5% for the quarter, with annual arrivals of 8.3m amounting to an increase of 1%. Asian arrivals proved strongest towards year-end, with 8% growth in December, even though they were down 12% for the year overall, at just 5m.

Canadian arrivals dropped by 2% in December, but increased by 3% in the 4th quarter. Annual visits were 12.7m, down 2%. Arrivals from Mexico fell 5% for the month, but due to a strong November, the 4th quarter still saw a 1% gain. Annual numbers were down 2% at 3.8m.

Of visitors from the major countries, Japanese represented the biggest group in December?good news for west coast operators.

Visitors numbered 323,000 in December, up 11%. UK arrivals rose 3%, the 10th monthly increase of the year. Annual arrivals of 3.9m were up 3%. On an annual basis, arrivals from Spain were up 5%, and  from Sweden up nearly 4%, but down 14% from Brazil. Australian visitor numbers were flat year-on-year.