News Release
June 3, 2011
Contact: David Blandford
Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau
(206) 461-5806/
dblandford@visitseattle.org
Seattle and Washington State Lead the Nation in Percentage Growth of Overseas Visitors
More Than 30 percent Growth Reported by U.S. Department of Commerce
SEATTLE – Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced new estimates on overseas visitor arrivals to the U.S. that indicate a dramatic rebound for Seattle and Washington State.
In 2010, overseas arrivals to the U.S. grew 11 percent over 2009, according to the report issued Monday by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI).
Washington State posted a 32 percent increase in overseas visitor volume in 2010, tying for greatest increase with Nevada. California posted a 21 percent increase. Across the nation, 13 states in all posted double-digit increases. Washington ranked 14 among all states for overseas visitor volume.
Ten major U.S. cities attracted double-digit increases, led by Seattle and Los Angeles (33 percent, respectively), Las Vegas (31 percent), Atlanta (25 percent) and San Diego (24 percent). Seattle ranked 15th among major U.S. cities for overseas visitor volume.
Despite the global economic recession and its impact on travel and tourism, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has welcomed new overseas air service during the past two years. In 2009, Icelandair inaugurated Reykjavik-Seattle service and Hainan Airlines began non-stop Beijing-Seattle service. In 2010, Delta Air Lines inaugurated nonstop Beijing-Seattle and Osaka-Seattle service. Next month, Condor Airlines will add round-trip flights twice weekly between Frankfurt and Seattle.
“This latest data underscores the continued popularity of Seattle and Washington State as destinations for global visitors,” said Tom Norwalk, President & CEO of Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. “However, as we’ve learned during the past three years and from the events of 9/11 a decade ago, travel is fragile and its benefits cannot be assumed. We will continue work with our marketing partners at the Port of Seattle and the newly formed Washington Tourism Alliance to sustain and strengthen market share.”
Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, a private, nonprofit marketing organization, has served as Seattle/King County’s official destination marketing organization (DMO) for more than 50 years. The goal of these marketing efforts is to enhance the employment opportunities and economic prosperity of the region.
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