BRIC countries at forefront of tourism growth globally

The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) will dominate the next 10 to 20 years of global tourism, growing twice as fast as the average country, according to a Goldman Sachs economist speaking at the WTTC summit in Beijing.

Macro economist Anna Stupnytska told delegates: “Global tourism will grow on average at 5% over the next two years but the BRICs and in particular India and China will grow at more than twice this level and this in itself is four times what established economies such as the USA and the euro zone will grow at."

She added: “Real growth patterns have already returned to pre-recession levels and by 2030 most BRIC countries will see a massive rise in middle incomes. This in turn has great consequences for the travel and tourism industry globally.”

She explained that middle income earners have a greater propensity to spend on leisure activities and as such the massive rise in BRIC middles classes will also lead to a substantial rise in travel patterns.

She said: “‘The rise in income levels does however lead to much greater demand upon energy supplies and all of the BRICS have higher than average growth rates in this area also. We are confident however that new energy technologies and policies will lead to a reduction in the current levels of greenhouse gases.”