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“These results confirm that in spite of several challenges, the recovery of international tourism, which was remarkably strong last year, is consolidating“ |
Taleb Rifai Secretary-General UNWTO |
INTERNATIONAL. International tourist arrivals grew by +4.7% year-on-year during the first two months of 2011 to hit 124 million, according to the latest Interim Update of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. The figures “consolidate the +7% rebound registered in 2010”, said the organisation.
Growth was positive in all world (sub)regions during January and February 2011, with the exception of the Middle East and North Africa. South America and South Asia led the increases (both at +15%), followed by sub-Saharan Africa (+13%) and Central and Eastern Europe (+12%).
Asia and the Pacific, the region with one of the fastest growth rates in 2010, saw its pace of growth slow down (+6%), although from a very strong performance the previous year. Results were better than expected for Europe (+6%), boosted by the recovery of Central and Eastern Europe, and the temporary redistribution of travel to destinations in Southern and Mediterranean Europe due to developments in North Africa (-9%) and the Middle East (-10%).
The Americas (+5%) was in line with the world average, with strong results for South America and the Caribbean, but weaker growth in North and Central America.
Overall, emerging economies (+6%) grew at a faster pace than advanced ones (+4%).
“These results confirm that in spite of several challenges, the recovery of international tourism, which was remarkably strong last year is consolidating,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “The news is especially positive for emerging economies and developing countries, particularly for Africa where tourism is increasingly recognised as a driver of development, exports and jobs,” he added.
According to the forecast prepared by UNWTO at the beginning of the year, international tourist arrivals are projected to increase by +4% to +5% in 2011. The impact of recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the tragic earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, are not expected to substantially affect this projected growth.
Results for North East Asia, North Africa and the Middle East are below initial forecasts, but destinations in Europe and South America are so far performing better than anticipated. On the whole, and as in previous similar situations, a temporary redistribution of traffic – together with an increase in intra-regional travel, as opposed to inter-regional – is likely to occur, said UNWTO.
“Although recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East and the terrible events in Japan will affect the results of their respective regions, overall growth in international tourism should not be significantly impacted”, said Rifai. “Moreover, the fall in demand in Tunisia, Egypt and Japan is expected to have bottomed out and the recovery of these important destinations will surely be consolidated during the year,” he added.
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Latest figures for 2010 underline rise of China
International tourism receipts in 2010 are estimated to have reached US$919 billion worldwide, up from US$851 billion in 2009. In real terms (adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation) international tourism receipts increased by +5% as compared to an almost +7% growth in arrivals, showing the close relation between both indicators and confirming that in recovery years, arrivals tend to pick up faster than receipts, UNWTO noted.
The top ten ranking of international tourism spenders shows China climbing to third position. China was able to multiply expenditure four times since 2000, thus achieving by far the fastest growth in this category over the last decade. Other changes in the ranking of international tourism expenditure include the rise of Canada and Australia to the sixth and tenth positions respectively.
China has also reinforced its position in the 2010 rankings of the first ten destinations by international tourist arrivals and receipts. In arrivals, China has overtaken Spain and now ranks third after France and the US; in terms of receipts it ranks fourth, overtaking Italy. The only other change in the ranking by receipts came from Hong Kong, which climbed from the 12th to the ninth position. France continues to lead the ranking of the world’s major tourism destinations in terms of arrivals and ranks third in receipts while the US ranks first in receipts and second in arrivals.
