The Benelux is booming!
21% more visitors from the Benelux
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that in 2008 a total of 891,897 visitors traveled from the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) to the US. This is an increase of 21% in comparison to 2007. The Dutch were responsible for the largest amount; 607,802 travelers from the Netherlands visited the US in 2008, an increase of 20%.
7th ranking
The US were especially popular in the month July, over 80,000 Dutch went through customs. With these numbers, the Benelux claims the 7th place in the ranking of international arrivals. Number 1 on this list is Canada, followed by Mexico and the United Kingdom. When we relate these figures to the total number of inhabitants of these countries, the Benelux even reaches a fourth place, with a total of 33 arrivals per 1,000 inhabitants.
| |
land |
2007
|
2008
|
%
|
| 1 |
Canada |
17.760.000
|
18.925.564
|
+7%
|
| 2 |
Mexico |
14.327.000
|
13.763.000
|
-4%
|
| 3 |
United Kingdom |
4.497.858
|
4.564.895
|
+2%
|
| 4 |
Japan |
3.531.489
|
3.249.587
|
-8%
|
| 5 |
Germany |
1.524.151
|
1.782.299
|
+17%
|
| 6 |
France |
997.506
|
1.246.942
|
+25%
|
| 7 |
Benelux |
738.044
|
891.897
|
+21%
|
| 8 |
Italy |
634.152
|
779.463
|
+23%
|
| 9 |
Brazil |
639.431
|
769.232
|
+20%
|
| 10 |
South Korea |
806.175
|
759.349
|
-6%
|
Travelers from the Benelux were not only inspired by the endless possibillities the US offers as a destination, also the favourable exchange rate and the 'Obama effect' were responsable for the huge increase. With this in mind, the Benelux countries form an interesting target group for US travel suppliers and destinations.
|
