24 Emerging Destinations Lead International Tourism Recovery

Tuesday, 30 Apr, 2010 0

Estonia – double digit tourism growth

Twenty four destinations post double digit growth: Ash caused less than 0.3 percent reduction: tourism receipts down $90bn in 2009: China leaps to 4th place

A large number of countries around the world reported positive results in the first months of 2010. Of the 77 destinations reporting data for this period, 60 showed positive figures, of which 24 posted double-digit growth. Says the UNWTO in its April tourism barometer.

These countries include: Estonia, Israel, Hong Kong (China), Macao (China), Japan, Taiwan (pr. of China), Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Guam, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, US Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Kenya, Seychelles, Morocco, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

International tourism is steadily gaining momentum. International tourist arrivals grew by 7% in the first two months of 2010 worldwide, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Growth was particularly strong in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. UNWTO forecasts international tourist arrivals to grow by 3% to 4% in 2010.

This is against a background of a reduction in 2009 of 4% in arrivals and 6% in receipts. Receipts were $90bn down on 2008 $942bn and arrivals down. China overtook France in 2009 to claim 4th place in the top ten of international tourism spenders.

According to the April Interim Update of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals are estimated to have increased by 7% in the first two months of 2010. Though data for March is still limited, countries with data already reported confirm that this positive trend is set to continue.

Growth was positive in all world regions during the first two months of 2010 led by Asia and the Pacific (+10%) and Africa (+7%). Information for the three countries of the Middle East that have reported results so far also point to a strong rebound in the region, though, compared to very subdued first months of 2009. The pace of growth was slower in Europe (+3%) and in the Americas (+3%), the two regions hardest hit by the global crisis and where economic recovery is proving to be comparatively weaker.

Though there is a clear improvement on the negative results of 2009, this growth must be considered with caution as it compares with a particularly weak period of 2009 – the worst months of the global economic crisis. On the whole, international tourist arrivals totalled 119 million during the first two months of 2010, up 7% on 2009 but still 2% below the value of the record year of 2008.

UNWTO forecasts international tourist arrivals to grow by 3% to 4% in 2010.

This outlook has not been altered by the recent air traffic disruption in European airspace. UNWTO estimates that the closure of a major part of European airspace between 15 and 20 April might have caused a loss of less than half a per cent of the yearly volume of international tourist arrivals in Europe and 0.3% of the total count for the world.

“Although economic results have improved significantly in recent months with a positive impact on tourism demand we must remain cautious as many factors can still jeopardize the pace of recovery”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai today in Sofia, Bulgaria. “The economic recovery is being driven mainly by emerging economies while growth is still sluggish in most advanced ones. At the same time, increasing unemployment levels in major tourism source markets is a cause of concern”, he added.

Relevant links: Excerpt of the Interim Update of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer: www.unwto.org/facts/eng/barometer.htm

UNWTO’s Roadmap for Recovery: www.unwto.org/trc.

Valere Tjolle

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, special offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php

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