The global tourists
1087000000 tourist arrivals / year
International tourism exceeds expectations with 1.087 billion arrivals up 52 million in 2013
According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals increased by 5% in 2013, reaching a record $ 1,087 million as against 1.032 billion in 2012. Despite the global economic challenges, international tourism results have far exceeded expectations with 52 million more tourists have traveled the world in 2013. For 2014, UNWTO expects growth of 4 to 4.5%, again higher than the long-term projections.
Number of tourists in the world in 2013
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the number of tourists increased by 5% in 2013, 1.1 billion people, pointing out that tourism was "one of the few sectors that have brought good news to many economies. "
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The first half usually accounts for some 45% of the total number of arrivals in a year (in the northern hemisphere, the high season is in July and August, which are part of the second half).
The application of international tourism has been strongest in destinations in the Asia region (+ 6%), Africa (+ 6%) and Europe (+ 5%). The most dynamic sub-regions were South-East Asia (+ 10%), Central and Eastern Europe (+ 7%), Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+ 6%) and Africa North (+ 6%).
2013 was an excellent year for international tourism
The tourism sector has shown how he was able to adapt to changing markets, boost growth and create jobs in the world, despite persistent economic and geopolitical challenges. Moreover, for many economies, tourism has been one of the few industries to bring positive news. "
UNWTO expects international arrivals increase by 4 to 4.5% in 2014, more so than its long-term forecast which projected an annual increase of 3.8% between 2010 and 2020. The confidence index of UNWTO, based on the opinions of more than 300 world experts, confirms this view when the 2014 perspectives beyond those of previous years.
"The positive results of 2013, the global economic recovery expected in 2014, set the stage for a new positive year for international tourism. On this background, UNWTO calls on governments to develop national strategies to support an industry that can contribute to a sustainable and equitable growth, "said Mr. Rifai.
By region, the 2014 outlook is strongest for Asia-Pacific (+ 5% to + 6%) and Africa (+ 4% to + 6%), followed by Europe and the Americas (between + 3% and 4% in both cases). Middle East (0% to + 5%), the outlook is positive although volatile.
Europe is home to most of the new arrivals
563000000
In absolute terms, it is Europe that comes in the growth of head. Indeed, it hosted 29 million international tourist arrivals of more in 2013, bringing the total to 563 million. This growth, which exceeded forecasts for 2013, almost double the average growth rate of the region in 2005-2012 (2.5% per year). This performance is particularly remarkable when taking into account the situation of the regional economy and the results achieved already high in 2011 and 2012. In sub-regions are Central and Eastern Europe (+ 7%) and Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+ 6%), which show the best results.
In relative terms, the growth was more pronounced in the Asia-Pacific (+ 6%) where the number of international tourists increased from 14 million to 248 million. South-East Asia (+ 10%) is the sub-region, which recorded the best performance while growth was comparatively moderate in South Asia (5%), Oceania and Northeast Asia East (+ 4% each).
The Americas (+ 4%) have seen arrivals increase by 6 million to 169 million. Top the destinations of North and Central America (+ 4% respectively), while those in South America (+ 2%) and the Caribbean (+ 1%) were somewhat breathless over 2012.
Africa (+ 6%) attracted three million additional arrivals through which she scored a record 56 million reflecting the current rebound in North Africa (+ 6%) and sustained growth in sub-Saharan destinations (+ 5%). The results of the Middle East (+ 0%, and a total of 52 million) have been quite mixed and volatile.
Evolution of the number of tourists in the world in 2013
