Colombia, however, is on course to possible all-time record year for U.S. arrivals. There were no real surprises in the National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO) monthly posting of overseas visitor traffic to the United States. Published not long after the last issue of INBOUND, the latest data—for the month of October and for the year-to-date in 2021— told us that LATAM country markets once again dominated the Top 15 dominated the rankings. As we’ve pointed out, many of the LATAM countries have had less stringent restrictions on travel. And they’ve benefited from air service that has a strong network of shorter connecting flights to the USA, with some routes taking as little as three hours. (Cartagena, Colombia to Miami is just under three hours.)
Even so, one has to stand back and look for reasons why the numbers look as if they are going to go off the charts for Colombia. It set a record for visitor traffic to the United States in 2019 (944 thousand). And through October 2021, it had delivered a little more than 850,000 travelers to the USA. It is doubtful that Colombia will reach or surpass the record year of 2019, but it should cheer those who market to the country that one of them is actually nearing a record.
Most of the numbers still don’t give a clue as to what to expect in December, as actual air service to key markets to the United States from-and-to long-haul air traffic did not begin until November 8. However, when the data from November are released in late December, we will have actual data telling us if a genuine recovery is under way.
Arrivals to U.S. from Top 15 Overseas
Country Source Markets for
October 2021
| Country Market & Overseas Rank | Arrivals | % Change vs October 2020 |
| 1. Colombia | 97,375 | 240.1% |
| 2. Ecuador | 44,062 | 138.8% |
| 3. Argentina | 41,555 | 351.0% |
| 4. Dominican Republic | 37,504 | 65.4% |
| 5. Peru | 35,201 | 3062.7% |
| 6. Chile | 30,661 | 217.4% |
| 7. Guatemala | 26,827 | 213.4% |
| 8. Costa Rica | 25,774 | 465.0% |
| 9. Israel | 24,736 | 585.0% |
| 10. South Korea | 22,182 | 350.9% |
| 11. Venezuela | 20,420 | 380.7% |
| 12. Bahamas | 19,172 | 561.8% |
| 13. Honduras | 18,983 | 116.5% |
| 14. El Salvador | 18,755 | 163.9% |
| 15. India | 17,701 | 12.1% |
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program
Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez International Airport is only about 1,100 miles from Miami.
Arrivals to U.S. from Top 15 Overseas Country Markets
Year-to-Date (through October) 2021
| Country Market & Overseas Rank | Arrivals | % Change vs YTD thru Oct. 2020 |
| 1. Colombia | 851,350 | 389.1% |
| 2. Peru | 343,293 | 404.2% |
| 3. Ecuador | 335,831 | 177.4% |
| 4. Dominican Republic | 310,967 | 150.5% |
| 5. India | 273,187 | -7.1% |
| 6. Argentina | 234,420 | 39.1% |
| 7. Guatemala | 220,614 | 306.5% |
| 8. Costa Rica | 202,706 | 178.9% |
| 9. Honduras | 193,815 | 280.1% |
| 10. Venezuela | 170,537 | 181.7% |
| 11. Israel | 162,726 | 116.2% |
| 12. China, PRC | 161,089 | -56.9% |
| 13. El Salvador | 151,519 | 282.5% |
| 14. Chile | 139,043 | 37.0% |
| 15. South Korea | 136,221 | -68.1% |
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program
Arrivals to U.S. from Overseas World Regions
October 2021
| World Region | Number of Arrivals | 2021 Share of Market | % Change vs. 2020 |
| TOTAL OVERSEAS | 774,650 | 100.0% | 224.7% |
| WESTERN EUROPE | 85,181 | 11.0% | 272.2% |
| EASTERN EUROPE | 26,365 | 3.4% | 198.4% |
| ASIA | 86,521 | 11.2% | 144.8% |
| MIDDLE EAST | 50,800 | 6.6% | 307.6% |
| AFRICA | 12,466 | 1.6% | 148.1% |
| OCEANIA | 4,274 | 0.6% | 120.3% |
| SOUTH AMERICA | 293,937 | 37.9% | 281.4% |
| CENTRAL AMERICA | 114,304 | 14.8% | 240.8% |
| CARIBBEAN | 100,802 | 13.0% | 143.1% |
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program
Arrivals to U.S. from Overseas World Regions
Year-to-Date (through October) 2021
| World Region | Number of Arrivals | 2021 Share of Market | % Change YTD vs. 2020 |
| TOTAL OVERSEAS | 6,222,016 | 100.0% | -9.6% |
| WESTERN EUROPE | 588,638 | 9.5% | -72.8% |
| EASTERN EUROPE | 182,654 | 2.9% | -20.0% |
| ASIA | 909,386 | 14.6% | -56.2% |
| MIDDLE EAST | 403,319 | 6.5% | 71.8% |
| AFRICA | 121,954 | 2.0% | 31.1% |
| OCEANIA | 32,774 | 0.5% | -87.0% |
| SOUTH AMERICA | 2,312,605 | 37.2% | 99.9% |
| CENTRAL AMERICA | 915,446 | 14.7% | 223.6% |
| CARIBBEAN | 755,240 | 12.1% | 93.3% |
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program
