Travel to foreign destinations by U.S. residents reached an all-time high last year: 61.8 million Americans journeyed abroad for leisure and business combined, a 10 percent increase from 2003. China, which has never made the top 10 before, saw a 72 percent surge in interest.—BARBARA BENHAM
| RANK | COUNTRY | 2004 TRAVELERS (IN MILLIONS) |
CHANGE FROM 2003 |
| 1 | Mexico | 19.36 | 10% |
| 2 | Canada | 15.06 | 6% |
| 3 | U.K. | 3.69 | 14% |
| 4 | France | 2.41 | 28% |
| 5 | Italy | 1.92 | 17% |
| 6 | China | 1.81 | 72% |
| 7 | Germany | 1.75 | 14% |
| 8 | Jamaica | 1.26 | -16% |
| 9 | Japan | 1.07 | 1% |
| 10 | Bahamas | 1.01 | -29% |
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, July 2005
