Foreign travel to the United States is forecast to fall 8 percent in 2009, the US Commerce Department said on Wednesday, as the Senate voted to create a new travel promotion program. Total visits to the United States from Canada, Mexico and overseas countries grew 3.7 percent in 2008 to 58 million, despite troubles in the US housing market that spread economic turmoil world-wide.
The forecast prepared for the Commerce Department by IHS Global Insight Inc expects foreign travel to the United States to rebound 3 percent in 2010 and then increase 5 percent annually to a record 64 million visitors in 2013.
"The numbers are a reminder that while the current global economic climate is difficult, more business sectors, like travel and tourism, are seeing glimmers of hope on the horizon," US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a bill to create an independent, nonprofit corporation to run a new travel promotion campaign.