International tourist arrivals worldwide grew by 5.7% in the first two months of
2012. Demand remained strong in both advanced and emerging economy
destinations, despite economic constraints in many of the source markets of
Europe and North America .
The first results of 2012 indicate that international tourism continued
to show sustained growth in spite of challenging economic conditions. During
the first two months of 2012, international tourist arrivals grew by an
estimated 5.7% compared to the same period of 2011, according to the May issue
of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, released in Batumi, Georgia on the
occasion of the 54th UNWTO Commission for Europe.
In Europe (+5%) results were above expectations, boosted by the strong
growth in arrivals to Central and Eastern Europe (+8%) as well as to
destinations of Northern Europe and Western Europe (both +6%). Europe ’s performance is a continuation of an already
solid 2011, when international arrivals increased by 6% overall to over 500
million. Demand has held up surprisingly well in the comparatively mature
advanced economy destinations of Northern, Western and parts of Southern and
Central Europe, despite continued concerns about the economy.
“These are welcome results for Europe
in a moment in which countries are looking for sectors that can deliver on
economic growth and job creation,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
“We need to work together with tourism administrations to ensure that
governments give priority to tourism as part of national policies to stimulate
growth and employment. In this respect, the 54th Meeting of UNWTO Commission
for Europe is focusing on levers that can
further enhance tourism development, particularly the crucial issues of visa
facilitation, tourism promotion and branding.”
At the same time, international tourism has been particular buoyant in
many emerging economy destinations in Eastern Europe .
“Eastern European destinations have strong tourism potential provided they
shape the adequate conditions. Georgia, this year’s host of the UNWTO
Commission for Europe , is a remarkable example
of a destination with a strong commitment towards tourism development,” added
Mr. Rifai. “As a result, arrivals have almost tripled in the past five years,
from just below a million in 2006 to close to 3 million in 2011, with
international tourism receipts reaching almost US$ 1 billion in 2011.”
Encouraging results across the world
In the first months of 2012, growth was positive in all regions, with
the exception of the Middle East (-1%), where there were nonetheless
encouraging signs of recovery, such as in Egypt (+32% in the first quarter).
South-East Asia and South Asia (both at +10%)
led growth by subregion.
Africa was the fastest-growing region with an increase of over 7% in
international tourist arrivals thanks to continued growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
(+7%) and a clear rebound in North Africa (+8%) as Tunisia (+53% in the first
quarter) started to recover. Asia and the Pacific saw a 7% increase in tourist
arrivals, led by South Asia and South-East Asia
(both +10%). North-East Asia (+6%) recorded higher growth as well, with
arrivals to Japan
up by almost 10% in the first quarter. The Americas
also reported significant growth (+6%), driven by the sustained strong demand
in South America (+8%) and Central America
(+7%).
Worldwide, international tourist arrivals surpassed 131 million in the
first two months of 2012, up from 124 million in the same period of 2011.
According to the forecast prepared by UNWTO at the beginning of the
year, international tourist arrivals are projected to increase by some 3% to 4%
in 2012. For the year as a whole, the number of international tourist arrivals
is expected to reach one billion for the first time.