Spending by international visitors rises

Good news — travel spending is up.

New data released Thursday by the International Trade Administration show spending by international visitors to the U.S. in April 2013 totaled nearly $14.5 billion, an increase of more than 5 percent when compared to April 2012.

International visitors have spent an estimated $57.9 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related services year-to-date in 2013, an increase of 8 percent when compared to the same period last year.

Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the U.S. totaled $11.2 billion during April. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation and other items incidental to foreign travel. Fares received by U.S. carriers and vessel operators from international visitors totaled nearly $3.3 billion for the month.

The United States enjoyed a favorable balance of trade for the month of April in the travel and tourism sector, with a surplus of nearly $4.2 billion.