International
tourist arrivals reached 1,138 million in 2014, a 4.7% increase over
the previous year, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism
Barometer. For 2015, UNWTO forecasts international tourism to grow by 3%
to 4%, further contributing to the global economic recovery.
The number of international tourists
(overnight visitors) reached 1,138 million in 2014, 51 million more than
in 2013. With an increase of 4.7%, this is the fifth consecutive year
of above average growth since the 2009 economic crisis.
“Over the past years, tourism has proven
to be a surprisingly strong and resilient economic activity and a
fundamental contributor to the economic recovery by generating billions
of dollars in exports and creating millions of jobs. This has been true
for destinations all around the world, but particularly for Europe, as
the region struggles to consolidate its way out of one of the worst
economic periods in its history,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb
Rifai, opening the Spain Global Tourism Forum in Madrid.
By region, the Americas (+7%) and Asia
and the Pacific (+5%) registered the strongest growth, while Europe
(+4%), the Middle East (+4%) and Africa (+2%) grew at a slightly more
modest pace. By subregion, North America (+8%) saw the best results,
followed by North-East Asia, South Asia, Southern and Mediterranean
Europe, Northern Europe and the Caribbean, all increasing by 7%.
As in recent years, the growth in
international tourism receipts in 2014 is expected to have followed that
of arrivals fairly close (the 2014 results for international tourism
receipts will be released in April 2015). In 2013, international tourism
receipts reached US$ 1,197 billion, US$ 230 billion more than in the
pre-crisis year of 2008.
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