Where Travelers Spent $654 Billion

The Travel Industry Association of America came out with their most recent report on American travel expenditures. In 2005 (Yeah, seems a year late to me too) American travelers spent $654 Billion here and abroad, and the total amount of economic activity related to traveling is $1.3 trillion. That’s a pretty decent chunk of change. The report has some pretty interesting statistics that are fun to know.

• U.S. Travelers took 1.48 billion leisure trips domestically
• U.S. travelers went abroad for leisure purposes 50 million times.
• Americans traveling abroad spent $95 billion while international travelers spent about $103 billion in the US — A surplus?!? Now if only the rest of our GDP would follow.

“Another growing trend is toward “niche marketing” in travel, Staley said. The industry is moving away from “shotgun” style, one-size-fits-all marketing”

Very true. Niche travel blogs are becoming huge marketing arenas for the travel industry. Budget Globetrotting is included in this sector just a little bit, but if I could get more direct advertisers then I could safely call myself a player in niche marketing.

• Two-thirds of international visitors to the US are worried they could face lengthy detention by U.S. officials when attempting to enter the country.
• 38 percent of American travelers would willingly pay more to travel companies to help them protect the environment
• Only 4% of American households are proud owners of timeshares

I looked around the TIA website trying to find more of these facts, but I found that to view a full version of the “Domestic Travel Market Report,” it’s going to cost you. The entire manual is for sale, at $180 a pop for members, and $300 for non members.