Tourism to and from the United States has gradually recovered in 2022 without returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to data released Tuesday by the Commerce Department.
For the full year, more than 50.8 million people visited the United States, 128% more than in 2021, when tourism was still heavily impacted by travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The total, however, represents just under two-thirds of the number of visitors to the United States in 2019, the last year before the start of the pandemic.
Despite everything, the level of visitors is gradually approaching its 2019 levels, as the number of entries in December 2022 represents almost three quarters of the level observed in December 2019.
Tourism from Western Europe is the one that has increased the most
On the other hand, Americans traveled more abroad, with just over 80 million short-stay departures in the whole of last year, or more than 80% of the level seen in 2019, and an increase of more than 65%. in a year. year.
In December, the level of departures nearly returned to its pre-pandemic levels, as the territory’s 8.3 million departures accounted for nearly 94% of the number of Americans who went on vacation in December 2019.
In fact, Americans have benefited greatly from the savings they accumulated during the pandemic, which continue to support the US economy despite the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) rate hike to reduce inflation, still at 6%. for a year in February.
American tourists prefer the countries of North America and the Caribbean
In detail, the countries bordering the United States, Mexico and Canada are the main providers and recipients of short stays.
On the visitor side, in addition to the other two North American countries, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and France are the main countries of origin for tourists who travel to the United States.
Tourism from Western Europe is also the one that has seen the strongest increase, with an increase of almost five times more entries than in 2021, as travel restrictions were relaxed.
American tourists have largely privileged the countries of North America and the Caribbean to go on vacation (more than 50% of departures), ahead of Western Europe (20%), to which tourism has tripled American in a year.
Source: BFM TV
