World tourism reaches “new heights”
International tourism reached record levels in 2015, according to the United Nations.
There were almost 1.2 billion arrivals for overnight trips worldwide last year, up by 4.4 per cent on the previous 12 months.
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said this was driven by a few leading markets including China, the USA and the UK.
It reported that expenditure from the UK grew by six per cent last year, partly because of a “strong currency and rebounding economy”.
Incoming tourism grew by around five per cent in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, while arrivals to the Middle East increased by three per cent.
It is estimated that there was a three per cent decline in Africa, although limited data was available.
UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai said: “International tourism reached new heights in 2015.
“The robust performance of the sector is contributing to economic growth and job creation in many parts of the world.
“It is thus critical for countries to promote policies that foster the continued growth of tourism, including travel facilitation, human resources development and sustainability.”
The UNWTO’s confidence index remains “largely positive for 2016”, although growth is expected to fall slightly to four per cent.
Image credit: iStock
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