VOA标准英语2010年-Foreign Tourism Drops in United States

A rebound¹ in travel is expected in 2010, but the US government predicts a shift in the makeup² of foreign visitors, with arrivals from Asia and South America growing by double digits³

The US government predicts the number of overseas visitors to the United States will rise this year following a steady decline for much of 2009. The increase in arrivals is expected to come largely from developing nations, as the global economic recovery in America's traditional Western markets remains⁴ sluggish⁵.

Millions of foreign tourists flock to Florida every year. They come for the pristine⁶ beaches, year-round sunshine, and attractions like Walt Disney World in Orlando.

But although nearly 55 million people came to the United States last year, times were tough for the travel industry. The number of international arrivals declined steadily⁷ over the first three quarters of 2009.   For Florida, where tourism accounts for more than 20 percent of the economy, the drop off was serious.

Danielle Courtney from the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau says, while both foreign and domestic visitors to the city declined in 2009, the drop in international arrivals was felt more than numbers would indicate.  "We have about three million international visitors a year. The difference is they make up about seventeen percent of our spending because they stay a little bit longer, they spend a little bit more," she said.

A rebound is expected in 2010, but the US government predicts a shift in the makeup of foreign visitors, with arrivals from Asia and South America growing by double digits. Brazil, India and China are expected to lead the pack.

The number of visits from Western European countries is expected to remain stagnant⁸.

Richard Foglesong, at Rollins College, studies tourism in Florida. He attributes the change to slower predicted growth in the West compared to emerging economies.

"It's part of the problem of the entertainment and tourist industry that you are so dependent upon a buoyant economy, because one of the first things that people cut is their discretionary leisure spending," Foglesong said.

Rudi Van Rooyen and Philippa Smit from South Africa decided⁹ to take a holiday this year in Florida. Van Rooyen says many South Africans still feel able to take foreign vacations because the economy is relatively¹⁰ stable. "With the American economy taking a dip, obviously the entire world suffers a little bit. But there was never any panic like there was here," he said.

But many Europeans at this tourist information center in Orlando say they are not surprised that fewer people from their countries are choosing to visit the U.S..

"We have been hit really hard by the recession and I think that probably has got a lot to do with it," says British tourist Sue Paige.

Meanwhile, with global growth expected to top four percent in 2010 compared to a decline of .6 percent in 2009, industry leaders in the United States say they are optimistic that the total number of foreign visitors will start to grow.
 

1 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

2 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

3 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

6 pristine   

adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的

参考例句：

• He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。
• He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

7 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

8 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。