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16 REGIONS :: DESTINATIONS TRENDS & FIGURES
Mammoth Lakes-USA
Strong Global Growth Cont
UNWTO gives upbeat outlook for world tourism
Demand for international
tourism remained strong
in the first four months
of 2014 according to
the results reported by
destinations around
the world included in
the June issue of the
UNWTO’s World Tourism
Monitor.
International tourist arrivals
worldwide grew by 5%, the
same rate as during the full
year 2013. Prospects for this
year’s peak tourism season
remained very positive with
over 460 million tourists
expected to travel abroad in
the May-August 2014 period.
Destinations worldwide
received some 317 million
international tourists
(overnight visitors) between
January and April 2014,
14 million more than in the
same period of 2013. This
5% growth consolidates
the already strong increase
registered in 2013 (+5%)
and is well above the longterm
trend projected by
UNWTO for the period 2010-
2020 (+3.8%). Growth has
been spread fairly widely
with virtually all sub-regions
recording increases in
international arrivals of 4% or
higher. By region, the strongest
growth was registered in
Asia and the Pacific and
the Americas (both +6%),
followed closely by Europe
and Africa (both at +5%). By
sub-region, Northern Europe,
Southern and Mediterranean
Europe, North Africa and
South Asia (all +8%) were the
star performers.
“The encouraging start to
2014 and the overall positive
sentiment in the sector raise
high expectations for the
current peak tourism season,
benefiting destinations from
both advanced and emerging
economies," said UNWTO
Secretary-General, Taleb
Rifai. “The 5% growth in
the number of international
tourists crossing borders
in the first months of 2014
further reflects the impact
of the increase in public
support to the sector as well
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
-4
International Tourist Arrivals
(% change over same period of the previous year)
5.1 4.7
6
8
Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ©
4
World
Northern Europe
Western Europe
1
7
Central Eastern Eu.
4
6
Southern/Mediter. Eu.
as the immense capacity of
tourism companies to adapt
to changing markets.”
Europe, the most visited region
in the world, maintained the
strength shown in 2013 with
international tourist arrivals
growing by 5% through April.
8
3
North-East Asia
7
11
South-East Asia
5 5
Oceania
6
10
South Asia
8
4
North America
6
2
Caribbean
4
Central AMerica
Northern Europe and Southern
Mediterranean Europe (+8%
each) led growth. Africa's
international tourist numbers
grew by 5% as the recovery
was consolidated further
in North Africa (+8%).
International tourist arrivals in
the Middle East are estimated
13/12
14*/13 January - April
3
6
3
South America
6 6
North Africa
8
5
Subsaharan Africa
4
-1
Middle East
- 4
IFTM Daily • Friday 19 th September 2014
www.iftmdaily.com