Spending at $11.8 Billion for the Month 
 
The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that for the first three months of 2011, visitation (12.9 million) was up two percent compared to the same period in 2010. However, in March 2011, travel to the United States was flat compared to March 2010 with 4.8 million international visitors to the United States. 

In March 2011, declines were registered in six of the nine overseas regions. Part of the decline was expected since the Easter holidays occurred at the end of April 2011. In 2010, the Easter holidays were at the end of March through the beginning of April. 

International visitors spent $11.8 billion in March 2011, seven percent more than in March 2010. March 2011 marks the 15th consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism-related exports. During the first three months of 2011, international visitors spent nine percent more than they did during the first three months of 2010. 

For more information please visit OTTI to access U.S. international visitation statistics.

Source: Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.