Diversity Facts & Figures

The travel industry employs more Hispanics and 12% more African Americans than any other U.S. industry. Employment of African-American and Hispanic individuals in U.S. accommodations is 37.7% of employees, in food and beverage service it is 27.6% and in ground transportation it is 30.1%. (Experiencewashington.com, 2002)

African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans spend about $90 billion a year on travel in the United States. African-American travel rates of personal trips have risen 15% higher than the overall U.S. market. (JSOnline, 2002)

Asian Americans spend the most on an average trip ($635), excluding spending on transportation to their destination. Hispanics ($540) and African Americans ($471) followed. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

African Americans and Hispanic Americans each generate seven percent of all personal trips. Asian Americans generate three percent of all personal trips. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

Minority travel habits follow those of U.S. domestic travelers. A majority of travelers use cars as the primary form of transportation and the average travel group size is two people. (Jewelers Circular Keystone, 2000)

A slightly higher proportion of women and racial and ethnic minorities travel during the holidays than during the entire year. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans cite pleasure travel as the most common form of travel and visiting friends or relatives as the most common reason to travel. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

Asian Americans and Hispanics tend to travel in the Pacific and mountain regions, and African Americans in the South Atlantic and South Central areas. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

Leisure trips account for 60% of all trips taken by Asian Americans compared to the average of 66%. Asian Americans are more likely to travel alone, travel for business purposes, and use air transportation. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

While on a trip, the most common leisure activity for all minorities is shopping. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

Activity differences between minority groups:

· African Americans are most likely to go on a group tour or to a cultural festival.

· Hispanics & African Americans are more likely than Asian Americans to visit a theme park.

· Hispanics are most likely to visit a beach.

· All three ethnic and racial minority groups are more likely than all U.S. travelers to participate in nightlife activities and gambling while on vacation.
(Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

- Six in ten Hispanic travelers come from California, Texas, Florida, New York, and New Mexico. Hispanic travelers also tend to travel more with children and in larger groups. In accordance with larger group traveling, Hispanics are most likely to own an RV. (Travel Industry Association of America, 2001)

Top cities for Hispanic-American travel:
· Las Vegas
· Orlando
· Los Angeles
· San Diego
· San Bernadino, CA.
(JSOnline, 2001)

Top cities for African-American travel:
· Atlanta
· Las Vegas
· Washington
· Orlando
· Houston.
(JSOnline, 2001)

Top cities for Asian-American travel:
· Las Vegas
· Los Angeles
· San Francisco
· San Diego
· Orange County area, CA.
(JSOnline, 2001)

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (n.d.). Home for the Holidays. Retrieved March 27, 2003, from http://www.bts.gov/

Experiencewashington.com. (2002). Travel Industry Employment. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from http://216.239.33.100/

Jeweler's Circular Keystone. (2000). Facts About U.S. Travelers. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from http://www.jckgroup.com/

JSOnline. (2002). City Works Hard to Draw Conventions of Minorities. Retrieved March 27, 2003, from http://www.jsonline.com/

JSOnline. (2001). U.S. Minorities Increase Their Traveling. Retrieved March 27, 2003, from http://www.jsonline.com/

Travel Industry Association of America. (2001). Minority Travelers: a Large and Growing Market. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from http://www.tia.org/press/010901minority.asp.