France remains No. 1 as the most visited country, followed by the US, China and Spain vying for third place.
So says the UN World Tourism Organization.
"France will remain number one," the secretary-general of the Madrid-based body, Taleb Rifai, told a news conference.
He said China decided a few years ago that tourism should be a pillar of its economy, and it worked. "The center of gravity is moving towards China, and Asia in general."
By 2020 China will be the world’s most visited country as well as the top source of foreign tourists, Rifai said.
France attracted 74.2 million visitors in 2009 followed by the United States with 54.9 million visitors and Spain 52.2 million, according to the UN tourism body. Its tourism rankings will be published in January.
Rifai said:
"2009 was the worst year ever in the last 60 years" for global tourism but the sector had bounced back this year and is expected to post growth in 2011 as well.
The UN body predicts international tourist arrivals will grow by five to six per cent in 2010 to between 920 and 930 million arrivals, and will increase by four per cent in 2011.
By David Wilkening
