INTERNATIONAL TOURISM demand continued to be robust between January and April, with tourist arrivals increasing four per cent worldwide, according to the latest United Nations World Tourism Organisation Barometer (UNWTO).
The Caribbean recorded a seven per cent increase, and almost all other regions enjoyed strong growth. Prospects for the three-month period ending next month remained upbeat, with close to 500 million tourists expected to travel abroad during these four months.
Destinations worldwide received some 332 million international tourists (overnight visitors) between January and April 2015, 14 million more than the same period last year, corresponding to an increase of four per cent. This result follows an increase of 4.3 per cent in 2014 and consolidates the upwards trend of international tourism in recent years (4.5 per cent international tourist arrivals a year on average since 2010).
By region, the Americas (4.5 international tourist arrivals a year on average since 2010).
By region, the Americas (six per cent) led growth, followed by Europe, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East, all recording four per cent to five per cent more arrivals. By sub-region, Oceania, and South America boasted the strongest increase (both eight per cent), followed by the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe (both seven per cent), the latter rebounding from last year’s decline.
In Africa, demand weakened in 2014 after years of solid growth, affected mainly by the Ebola outbreak among other challenges. Limited data currently available for January to April 2015 points a six per cent decline, as African destinations struggle to recover from the misperceptions affecting the continent.
In the Americas, (six per cent increase) all four sub-regions continued to enjoy significant growth, led by South America and the Caribbean.
“It is encouraging to see the tourism sector consolidating its excellent results despite security concerns and unrest in many parts of the world,” said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai. (PR/SC)