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Travel and Tourism

2022 Annual and 2023 Year-to-Date Outbound Results

NTTO Publishes 2022 and 2023 (Through Q2) Outbound SIAT Results

—Highlights for Calendar Year 2022: U.S. outbound travelers reached 80.7 million; Mexico (33.5 million) was the largest destination while the United Kingdom (3.7 million) was the largest overseas destination
—Highlights for Q2 2023: U.S. outbound air travelers to overseas countries of 13.98 million were +8.9% compared to the second quarter of 2019

The International Trade Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) is releasing the results of the Outbound Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT) covering calendar year 2022 as well as the first and second quarters of 2023. The Outbound SIAT measures the characteristics and destinations of international outbound air travelers who are residents of United States.

International Outbound Travelers From the United States in Calendar Year 2022

  • Total (Overseas, Canada, and Mexico) U.S. outbound travelers rebounded to 80.7 million in 2022, up 64% over 2021 and nearly 81% of the record U.S. outbound travel in 2019 when it reached 99.7 million.
  • Mexico, the largest outbound market (33.5 million), increased 17% from 2021 and attained 84% of its 2019 level.
  • Canada, with a significant but smaller base (9.1 million), increased 334% from 2021, but had only achieved 61% of its 2019 level.
  • Overseas countries (38.1 million) increased 109% from 2021, and reached 85% of its 2019 level.
  • Top overseas countries visited were the United Kingdom (3.7 million), France (3.1 million), the Dominican Republic (2.7 million), Italy (2.6 million), and Germany/Spain (both 2.0 million).
  • Top states of residence for U.S. travelers to overseas destinations were California (5.4 million), New York (5.1 million), Florida (4.5 million), Texas (2.9 million), and New Jersey (2.5 million).
  • Top-line characteristics of the 54.4 million international outbound air travelers from the United States:
    • The average U.S. outbound traveler had a combined annual household income of $148,000, stayed 17.9 nights and spent $1,783 outside of the United States.
    • The average U.S. outbound traveler started planning their trip outside the United States 102 days prior to departure.
    • Vacation/Holiday was the top main purpose of the trip (67%), followed by Visit Friends/Relatives (44%) and Business1 (9%).
    • Sightseeing was the top (79.5%) leisure activity engaged, followed by Shopping (71%), Small Towns/Countryside (47.4%), Historical Locations (40.7%), and Experience Fine Dining (36.9%).

International Outbound Air Travelers From the United States in Q2 2023

  • Total (Overseas, Canada, and Mexico) U.S. outbound air travelers were 18.7 million in the second quarter of 2023.
  • U.S. outbound air travelers to overseas countries of 13.9 million were +8.9% compared to the second quarter of 2019.
  • Top overseas countries visited were the United Kingdom (1.6 million, +25% compared to Q2 2019), Italy (1.5 million, +35%), France (1.3 million, +22%), the Dominican Republic (993,000, +14%), and Spain (867,000, +18%).

How to Access Outbound SIAT Statistics

  • The SIAT Outbound Survey Monitor is an interactive tool to analyze the characteristics of international outbound air visitors to overseas destinations at the country or world region level on an annual or quarterly basis from 2012 to present. The Monitor is also capable of calculating current year-to-date (YTD) estimates, for example 2Q2023 YTD (which includes 3Q2022 + 4Q2022 + 1Q2023 + 2Q2023)
  • The SIAT Results — Outbound Section includes quarterly and annual SIAT results for:
    • Analysis of 2022 U.S. Resident Travel to International Destinations
    • Overseas: containing 2 Banners, each containing 40 tables: Banner 1 All Overseas (Characteristics) and Banner 2 Overseas Destinations
    • Canada: containing 2 Banners, each containing 40 tables: Banner 1 Canada-Air (Characteristics) and Banner 2 Canada-Air Destinations
    • Mexico: containing 2 Banners, each containing 40 tables: Banner 1 Mexico-Air (Characteristics) and Banner 2 Mexico-Air Destinations
  • Learn more about the SIAT by visiting the SIAT Program Page.

Discover the Details of the SIAT Program