WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- U.S. tourism industry sales grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in 2003 in the first rise since 2000, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Monday.
Tourism sales grew in all four quarters of 2003, with a third-quarter increase of 17.7 percent and a 2.2 percent increase in the fourth quarter.
Direct tourism-related air transportation sales increased $2.7 billion in 2003, following declines of $15.7 billion and $9.8 billion in 2001 and 2002.
Direct tourism-related sales of eating and drinking establishments recorded steady growth for a third consecutive year, increasing $4.4 billion during 2003 after growing $2.1 billion and $3.0 billion in 2001 and 2002, in that order.
Sales in the two industries accounted for 56.9 percent of the increase in total direct tourism-related sales, which grew from $374.7 billion to $387.3 billion.
Sales in another major tourism industry, hotels and lodging, were virtually flat for a second consecutive year, decreasing $0.1 billion in 2003 after increasing only $0.5 billion in 2002.
