International Tourist Arrivals Reach a Record 1.1 Billion between January and October 2017
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| Photo Credit: Quora |
According to the Tourism Barometer, the strong
tourism demand of the earlier months of 2017, including the Northern Hemisphere
summer peak season, was maintained through October. Destinations worldwide
received a total of 1,127 million (+7%) international tourist arrivals
(overnight visitors) in the first ten months of the year, 70 million more than
in the same period of 2016.
In particular, destinations in Southern and
Mediterranean Europe, North Africa and the Middle East showed extraordinary
strength. Growth in international arrivals exceeded 7% in all destinations of
Southern and Mediterranean Europe, with a rapid recovery seen in Turkey and
double-digit increases for most of the region's other destinations. In North
Africa and the Middle East, Egypt, Tunisia and Palestine rebounded strongly
from previous years’ declines, while Morocco, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman
and the United Arab Emirate of Dubai all continued to report sustained growth.
Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General said
that “These robust results, the best we have seen in many years, reflect the
sustained demand for travel around the world, in line with the improved global
economy and the rebound of destinations that suffered declines in previous
years,”
Regional Results
Europe (+8%) led growth in international
arrivals in the first ten months of 2017, driven by remarkable results in
Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+13%). Western Europe (+7%) rebounded from
weaker results last year, while Northern Europe (+6%) enjoyed ongoing solid
growth. Arrivals in Central and Eastern Europe grew 4% between January and
October 2017.
Africa (+8%) was the
second fastest-growing region over this period, thanks to a strong recovery
in North Africa (+13%) and the sound results of Sub-Saharan Africa (+5%).
In Asia and the Pacific (+5%) results were led by South Asia
(+10%), with South-East Asia (+8%) and Oceania (+7%) also enjoying a robust
increase in arrivals. North East Asia (+3%) recorded more mixed results, with
some destinations reporting double-digit increases, and others, declines.
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South America (+7%) continues to lead growth
in the Americas, where arrivals overall increased by 3%. Central America and
the Caribbean both grew 4%, with the latter showing clear signs of recovery in
October in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. In North America (+2%),
robust results in Mexico and Canada contrast with a decrease in the United
States, the region’s largest destination.
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