Global tourism rises 12 per cent in 2004

WTM 2004 Special: Global tourism is increasing rapidly with worldwide arrivals rising 12 per cent to around 526 million in the first eight months of 2004, compared with the same period as last year.

Figures unveiled in The World Travel Market Global Report 2004-05 revealed all regions of the world benefited from the trend, with the Asia Pacific region recording the most impressive growth, up 37 per cent to 99 million arrivals,  albeit from depressed levels in 2003.

Other strong performers were the Middle East, which followed up a three per cent rise in 2003 with growth levels of 24 per cent to 23 million arrivals.

International tourism arrivals to the US grew 12 per cent to 85 million after two years of decline, while arrivals to Africa rose nine per cent to two million and Europe managed relatively modest growth of three per cent to 296 million.

Turning to Europe, outbound tourism presents a more mixed picture. Based on the first eight months of 2004, the number of outbound trips for the year is set to rise by four per cent from the 2003 figure of 338 million. Overnight stays are expected to drop four per cent to 3.3 billion while spending per trip is expected to fall one per cent from the 1993 figure of 917 Euros per person. Total spending for 2004 is forecast to rise two per cent from last year’s $310 billion.

Short-haul travel from Europe for 2004 will grow three per cent, while long-haul trips will rise by 12 per cent. This contrasted with 2003, when short-haul grew at the expense of long-haul as people preferred to travel closer to home and for shorter stays, perhaps due to increased fear of terrorism.

From Europe, the number of holidays taken in 2004 is expected to rise 10 per cent from the 1993 figure of 230 million; business travel will fall one per cent from 48 million and the “visiting friends and relatives” market  will fall 10 per cent from 60 million last year, when the VFR market was very strong.

The strongest outbound growth markets in Europe were Spain and Russia, both up 10 per cent. Benelux, Italy and Sweden all enjoyed growth between 5-10 per cent, while France, UK and Germany were up 2-5 per cent. Trips from Switzerland and Austria both fell.

The most popular European destinations to visit were the new EU and future EU members, such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Baltic states, Slovakia and Poland.

Interestingly, worldwide, the Japanese spend an average of 2,100 Euros per person per trip; the Chinese E1,900; the Americans E1,400 and Europeans E900.

Report by Jeremy Skidmore