US Customs Report Reveals Positive Travel Industry Trends

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its annual report Tuesday, indicating significant international travel and trade growth in the fiscal year 2017.

The CBP Trade and Travel Report detailed the agency’s focus on advancing America’s economic growth and maintaining the country’s place as the world’s top destination for tourism and business travel.

In terms of travel accomplishments, CBP officers processed more than 397.2 million people at air, land and sea ports across the country last year. That’s a 9.7 percent overall increase in international travel and 21.6 percent increase at airports.

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The CBP revealed 7.6 percent more U.S. citizens traveled internationally and four percent more non-U.S. citizens arrived in America last year. The agency also said the number of arriving air international travelers whose processing was assisted by automated means grew from 3.3 percent in 2013 to more than 50 percent in 2017.

“CBP officers are charged with accomplishing two very important missions—securing the United States borders and facilitating legitimate trade and travel,” acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a statement. “CBP saw record numbers for air international arrivals and increases in cargo processed and trade enforcement in FY2017.”

“The continued growth in trade and travel has challenged CBP to work not only harder, but smarter, incorporating new technologies and new innovations into our daily operations,” McAleenan continued. “These transformation efforts have resulted in more efficient processing in the air, pedestrian, vehicle and cargo environments.”

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To continue increasing the number of travelers using automated means to expedite the entry process, the CBP plans to implement an integrated biometric system that will benefit air travel partners while also meeting the congressional mandate.

In total, the CBP report revealed the agency is the second largest revenue collecting source in the federal government, earning approximately $40.1 billion in duties, taxes and other fees in 2017.