On the jobs front, active members report employing 10,230 people within the US, representing $685 mi

Active international travel warnings members of the United international travel warnings States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) report that travel agents represent nearly two-thirds (64.4%) of total packages sold in 2011, a number expected to hold steady in 2012.
Travel agents are clearly a very important piece of our members business model, said Terry Dale , USTOA president and CEO. A new survey by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) found that active members of the USTOA contributed $10.3 billion to the U.S. tour operator industry in 2011, representing more than 6.1 million individual travelers.
international travel warnings USTOA members also project a healthy increase in sales in 2012 of 7.5 percent to $11 billion, with a 5.6 percent increase in individual travelers, to 6.5 million. USTOA said it commissioned the PwC study the first of its kind in the association s 40-year history to measure the economic impact of travel packages sold by its active members.
As USTOA increases its advocacy role within the industry and in the nation s capital, it is critical that we truly understand the economic footprint of our active members, said Dale. This vital information on sales, jobs, the impact on our hotel and airline partners, the role of travel agents, and the forecast for the future, paints international travel warnings an accurate picture of how integral our members are to the health of the industry overall and strengthens our voice to all stakeholders.
The outlook for the tour industry is healthy, according to 88 percent of members who anticipate a growth in sales in 2013 over 2012. Of that majority, a quarter (26.7%) forecast a boom year with sales in excess of 10 percent, with another international travel warnings quarter international travel warnings (26.7%) optimistic international travel warnings about sales increasing 7-9 percent. More than a third (37%) remains cautiously international travel warnings optimistic that sales will increase 4-6 percent in 2013, USTOA reports.
When asked in an open-ended question to describe the industry outlook over the next five years, members commented that they see strong demand, international travel warnings aggressive growth, and are optimistic US economy stabilized, US dollar stronger, international travel warnings enabling us to have a better and improved buying power.
international travel warnings On the jobs front, active members report employing 10,230 people within the US, representing $685 million in total wages paid in 2011. In 2012, members project an increase of 4.3 percent, or 10,670 jobs, and a 3 percent increase international travel warnings in wages to $705 million. A clear majority of respondents 71 percent - plan to increase staff in 2013.
Purchases of goods and services for travel packages, including air, rail, cruise, international travel warnings ground transportation, accommodations, dining, and sightseeing/attractions, was $7.5 billion in 2011; with a projected increase of 9 percent to $8.2 billion in 2012.
When asked who s traveling, members responded that escorted/guided tours comprise more than half of their passengers in 2011 representing 54 percent and in 2012 it s expected international travel warnings to rise slightly to 55.4 percent; FIT packages are next at 41 percent in 2011 with a slight decline in 2012 to 38 percent. Cruises are the next largest segment at 24 percent in 2011 with a slight increase to 24.5 percent in 2012; followed by Student international travel warnings Travel, 22 percent in 2011 with growth to 23 percent expected in 2012, and Custom Packages at 20 percent in 2011 and 2012.
When asked to name the off-the-beaten path countries they foresee becoming popular in 2013, active members ranked international travel warnings Myanmar number one, followed by Vietnam, India, Peru, Cambodia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador.
international travel warnings Experiential, or E Factor, travel continues to play a major role in member programming. When asked to rank the experiential travel programs they currently offer, 71 percent of members cited adventure followed by culinary at 68 percent, art (61%), multigenerational travel (58%), safari (52%), and sport (42%).
On the down side, when asked to rank the global risks to growth prospects in the next three years, the majority 82 percent - cited global financial instability, followed by political instability (62%) and terrorism (56%). The strength of the U.S. dollar and natural disasters were named by 35 percent international travel warnings of respondents, with pandemics and other health related international travel warnings issues falling to the bottom of concerns, international travel warnings by just 15 percent of members.
international travel warnings This was an enormous undertaking by our members and the incredibly high response rate of 75 percent, which PwC confirmed is extraordinary, just shows how dedicated they are to the mission and success of USTOA, concluded Dale. We are exceedingly grateful for and inspired by their commitment.
international travel warnings