Images from left to right: @mikelurie, @mypixtagram, @mrstevearnold

Given the time of year, we have a lot to be thankful for.

International visitation continues to recover to 2019 levels and our marketing and PR programs have returned to pre-pandemic levels as well.

We've had a full fall of media fam tours. Our peak demand season for media visits used to be spring. Now fall is just as busy.

On the marketing front, we have Brand USA and digital programs launching across the UK, Germany, and France with additional tour operator co-ops slated for winter and spring.

We're already making preparations for our 3rd annual Global Travel Exchange in Charlottesville - recently named Wine Enthusiast's Wine Region of the Year with registration launching in January.

There's still time to join us for a sales or media mission in 2024. Let me know if you're interested.

Enjoy the holidays and stay in touch!

CRUSA participated in Brand USA Travel Week U.K. & Europe hosted October 16-19 in London. CRUSA representatives met with more than 30 operators during the appointment-based event. Leads from the show will be shared in the next newsletter.

Photo courtesy Arlington Convention & Visitors Services

Capital Region USA hosted a panel discussion at the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit in Owings Mill, Maryland November 8-10. Scott Balyo led the discussion featuring (as shown) Becky Bickerton, Visit Frederick; Tiffany Ahalt, Visit Hagerstown & Washington County; and Elizabeth Joyner, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. The group shared ways their different destinations utilize CRUSA’s membership and programming to reach international visitors. 

US Visitation Year-to-Date

The U.S. registered 23 million overseas visitor arrivals through September 2023; an increase of 35% compared to January – September 2022 arrivals.

• Western Europe was the top world region with 9 million arrivals to the U.S., outpacing the overseas travel recovery rate with arrivals increasing 121% over 2022 and recovering 82% of 2019 arrivals.
• The top overseas visitor market to the U.S. through third quarter 2023 was the United Kingdom. UK visits to the U.S. registered 2.85 million, netting 12% of the total overseas visits to the U.S. YTD.
• 1.36 million German residents visited the U.S. to rank just ahead of India as the second largest overseas visitor market. Arrivals surged 126% compared to 2022, with 88% recovered from 2019 arrivals.
• India ranked third for arrivals to the U.S. (1.35 million – 115% above 2019 arrivals and 126% over 2022); South Korea ranked fourth (197% over 2022 and 70% of 2019 arrivals); and France rounded out the top five overseas visitor markets through September 2023 with 1.17 million arrivals to the U.S. (123% over 2022 and 83% of 2019 arrivals).
• The UK continues to lead the overseas countries for pleasure visits (2.5 million UK pleasure visitors) accounting for 13% of all overseas pleasure visits to the U.S. through September 2023 (based on Visa type).
• Germany, France, and Brazil all registered over 1 million pleasure visits to the U.S. through September 2023.

CRUSA Forecast

Based on core indicators and TMII Forecast Model

• 2023 visits from France to CRUSA are projected to fully erase the downturn in visits due to Covid impacts. The region’s year end visits are projected to reach an estimated 118,000, up 3% over 2019 visits to CRUSA.
• Visitation from Germany is closing in on a full recovery with visitation projected to reach an estimated 163,000 visits year’s end, a 93% recovery from 2019 visits.
• Visitation from the United Kingdom continues to rebound with an estimated 228,000 visits by year end 2023, an 88% rebound from 2019 visits.