International Tourism Recovers

International tourism recovers
Economy - Tuesday, November 9, 2010 (12:53 hrs)




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During January and August arrivals worldwide grew to 642 million: WTO (Photo: Reuters)





The online Financial


Mexico, November 9 until August .- The results show that international tourism is still recovering from the 4.2% decline experienced last year under the impact of economic crisis. In the first eight months of this year, the number of international tourist arrivals exceeded the peak reached during the same period the year before the crisis, 2008. According to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January-August 2010 arrivals worldwide reached 642 million, about 40 million more than in the same months in 2009 (+7%) and 1 million more than in the same period in 2008, the record year. Based on current trends, it is expected that international tourist arrivals will increase in the order of 5% or 6% during the whole year. In 2011, growth is expected to continue at a slower pace, around a long-term average of 4%.

Emerging destinations continue to lead growth, while Europe will recover more slowly.


Worldwide, international tourist arrivals increased by 7% in the first eight months of 2010 compared to same period in 2009. The results are positive in all regions of the planet. Emerging economies, however, they fell to the head, an increase of 8% in August, compared to 5% in advanced economies

July and August, the traditional high season in the northern hemisphere, clearly beat the record, contabilizadno respectively 112 and 108 million international arrivals. These 220 million represents an increase of 8 million over the arrivals of the peak year, 2008, and 12 million more if the figure is compared with the year of crisis, 2009. The results were outstanding in March (+9%), May (+11%) and June (+9%), contrasting sharply with the negative trends of the same months last year. April yielded more modest results (+2%), after the close of European airspace due to the ash cloud caused by the Icelandic volcano.
Although the recovery is still slow in some parts of Europe and America, many destinations and are showing real growth and are hitting new records. Asia and the Pacific has once again demonstrated their resilience and strong resilience. The region was caught very soon and so suddenly during the economic crisis, but it was also the first to show signs of recovery and ended up throwing a staggering 14% increase in international arrivals in August 2010. Compared with 2008, before the crisis, the region has already won an additional 10 million international tourist arrivals. Most destinations have registered growth rates in double digits, many even over 20%.

Growth was also notable in the Middle East (+16%), albeit from a very depressed in the first eight months of 2009. Africa (+9%), the only region that showed signs of growth in 2009, kept the momentum, aided also by the publicity given the World Cup by FIFA, was held in South Africa.




In the Americas (+8%), growth has been strong in North America and Central America (+9% each). South America (+7%) goes hand in hand than the global average, while the Caribbean (+3%) showed a slower growth rate.

Europe (+3%) is recovering more slowly, due to its uneven economic recovery and the impact of volcanic ash cloud in April. However, most locations reported positive figures for the period May to August, particularly in Western Europe (+4%), Central and Eastern Europe (+4%) and in southern and Mediterranean (+2%) . Northern Europe (-3%) is the only subregion in the world that continues to have negative results, bringing down the average for the region.

A higher than expected growth confirms the strength of the tourism sector
As on previous occasions, when there were the attacks of September 11 in 2001 and the SARS outbreak in 2003, tourism has once again confirmed its excellent resilience. After a decline of 4% in international tourist arrivals in 2009, the sector is showing real growth and is expected to beat its previous record for the end of 2010.

"These findings reinforce the message that we have been insisting since the outbreak of the global crisis in late 2008, tourism is one of the most dynamic economic sectors and a key engine for growth and creating a few jobs absolutely necessary, "said the Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, in presenting these figures during the WTO Ministerial Summit at World Travel Market in London (United Kingdom). "Tourism has been severely beaten by the global crisis, but less than other export sectors, and is currently recovering more quickly and more forcefully. We call on governments around the world and multilateral fora as the G-20, to give greater prominence to tourism in their agendas, as the industry can help achieve our common goals of ending the crisis , restore jobs and promote sustainable development, "he added.

As already underlined the WTO, in many advanced economies prevalent risk factors may adversely affect the pace of recovery, especially balance the budget constraints for public deficits in the main markets and the central problem of unemployment. Just recently, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that the crisis of employment will continue through 2015. The latest figures from the WTO point to tourism as one of the most promising sectors face the challenge of unemployment, taking into account that the creation of jobs in tourism tends to outperform the other sectors.
"Despite the demonstrated contribution of tourism to the economy," recalled Mr. Rifai, "has been a growing temptation to introduce or increase taxes on travel, especially air transport. These constraints seriously affect our ability to generate employment and stimulate economic growth, particularly through export earnings, which is crucial to achieve a steady economic recovery. "


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