Why Travel Matters

Travel and tourism is...

One of America’s largest industries

• $770 billion in direct TRAVEL EXPENDITURES by domestic and international travelers.
• $1.8 trillion in direct, indirect and induced TOURISM-RELATED OUTPUT.
• $117 billion in TAX REVENUE for local, state and federal governments generated by direct travel expenditures.
• Each U.S. household would pay $1,000 MORE IN TAXES without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry.
• Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. averages $2.1 billion a day, $88 million an hour, $1.5 million a minute, and $24,500 a second.

One of America’s largest employers

• 7.7 million direct travel-generated JOBS.
• $194 billion travel-generated PAYROLL.
• 1 of every 8 U.S. non-farm JOBS is created directly or indirectly or is induced by travel and tourism.

One of America’s largest service exports

• $142.1 billion spent by international visitors in the U.S. and the . . .
• $112.4 billion spent outside the U.S. by U.S.residents creates . . .
• $29.7 billion in BALANCE OF TRAVEL TRADE SURPLUS for the U.S.