According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. outbound international travel demonstrated positive gains through June 2006, up 6% over same period last year. While good news for the industry as a whole, the news was particularly exciting for Tahiti and Her Islands.

While Oceania (including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands) posted a modest gain of 4% increase in U.S. outbound travel (a number just slightly less than the aggregate 6% increase), Tahiti and Her Islands (a part of Oceania), posted an impressive 13% increase in outbound travel from the U.S.

Tahiti’s 13% increase topped U.S. outbound travel to other destinations, including: the Caribbean (+11%), Europe (+7), Africa (+9%), South America(+7%), and Asia (+7%).

This number reinforces a 2002 World Trade Organization forecast that sets expectations that, by 2020, Asia-Pacific will overtake the Americas to become the world's second largest tourism region, measured by arrivals, after Europe.

NewsBytes

• The U.S. Overseas Leisure traveler market grew by 5% in 2005 compared to 2004, representing a new record for overseas outbound leisure travel with 28.8 million travelers.
  
  
• Spending by U.S. leisure travelers increased in 2005 by 6%, setting a new record at $69.2 billion spent in countries outside the U.S.
  
  
• Leisure Travelers have increased average advance trip decision making time over 2004, by nearly a week, to 101.8 days.
  
  
• Starting Jan. 8, 2007, Americans traveling by air to Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean won't be allowed to return to the U.S. without a passport. The same rules will apply to air travel to Canada and Latin America.