U.S. Department of Commerce Sponsored China Travel Trade Barometer Survey Reports Increase in Bookings from China to the U.S. in Second Quarter of 2011 and Projects Bookings to Remain Strong Through the Fourth Quarter / July 2011

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U.S. Department of Commerce Sponsored China Travel Trade Barometer
Survey Reports Increase in Bookings from China to the U.S. in Q2
of 2011 and Projects Bookings to Remain Strong Through Q4

July 27, 2011 - CHINA Travel Trade Barometer: Bookings Projected to Remain Strong through the Fourth Quarter of 2011

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored China Travel Trade Barometer, a majority of the tour operators surveyed (as of June 16 - July 1, 2011) reported higher bookings in the second quarter 2011, increasing 16 to 20 percent, on average, compared to second quarter 2010. No one in the travel trade reported declining bookings.
Nearly all trade (92%) projected third quarter 2011 bookings from China to the United States to increase. More than half of the respondents projected bookings to be ‘much' higher (52%) and 40 percent of the respondents projected bookings to be higher in the third quarter.
On fifth (19%) of the trade projected fourth quarter bookings to be ‘much' higher and 58 percent of the trade projected bookings to be higher compared to last year. Just 15 percent of the travel trade projected bookings to be about the same, with only eight percent projecting bookings to be lower.
Over the next six months, the top motivator for travel to the United States was reported to be the exchange rate to the U.S. Dollar. Direct air service to desired locations and promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses were also listed as motivators for increasing bookings to the United States.
Visa processing time ranked as the top deterrent for travel to the United States. Pandemics and epidemics (e.g., H1N1 Flu) ranked as the second most concerning deterrent for travel to the United States over the next six months.

NATIONAL EXPORT INITIATIVE:
To improve conditions that directly affect the private sector's ability to export and to boost employment recovery, on March 11, 2010 President Obama created the National Export Initiative (NEI). The automation of the arrival/departure Form [CBP Form I-94W] for Visa Waiver Program travelers supports this initiative as the automated form will greatly improve the measurement and timely release of international arrival data to the United States. To learn more about the NEI, you are encouraged to visit http://www.trade.gov/nei/index.asp.

BACKGROUD AND SOURCE:
Travel Market Insights (www.travelmi.com) conducts the Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and People's Republic of China Travel Trade Barometer programs. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, is a sponsor and was the initial developer of the barometer program. The Barometer program is conducted with support from the U.S. Commercial Service and various Visit USA Committees and additional sponsors.

The National Tour Association (NTA) in partnership with Travel Market Insights (TMI) and Ivy Alliance (IVY) conducts the China Travel Trade Barometer in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

The Travel Trade Barometer survey is conducted on a quarterly basis in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and the People's Republic of China and is available through subscription. Discussions with industry partners to add Brazil are in progress. For more information, please contact Scott C. Johnson at Travel Market Insights on 518-668-2559.

Reports sent to subscribers include additional information, such as:

Bookings - looking at the past quarter and the next two quarters for U.S. and competitive regional destinations;
Short term bookings for more than five specific travel segments; and
Over 15 motivators or deterrents for travel to the United States.

Specific (proprietary) destination data is also available through a subscription.

For more information on the Travel Barometer Program, please visit http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/barometer/index.html

Contact:

U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
1401 Constitution Avenue N.W., Room 1003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: (202) 482-0140
Fax: (202) 482-4279
Email: [email protected]

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