International Tourist Arrivals Up 4 Percent in 2015

International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 percent in 2015 to reach a total of 1,184 million in 2015, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Some 50 million more tourists (overnight visitors) travelled to international destinations around the world last year as compared to 2014.

“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” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

By region, Europe, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific all recorded around 5 percent growth in 2015. Arrivals to the Middle East increased by 3 percent while in Africa, limited data available, points to an estimated 3 percent decrease, mostly due to weak results in North Africa, which accounts for over one third of arrivals in the region.

Results from the UNWTO Confidence Index remain largely positive for 2016, though at a slightly lower level as compared to the previous two years. Based on the current trend and this outlook, UNWTO projects international tourist arrivals to grow by 4 percent worldwide in 2016. By region, growth is expected to be stronger in Asia and the Pacific (+4 percent to +5 percent) and the Americas (+4 percent to +5 percent), followed by Europe (+3.5 percent to +4.5 percent).

The projections for Africa (+2 percent to 5 percent) and the Middle East (+2 percent to +5 percent) are positive, though with a larger degree of uncertainty and volatility.

Asia and the Pacific (+5 percent) recorded 13 million more international tourist arrivals last year to reach 277 million, with uneven results across destinations. Oceania (+7 percent) and South-East Asia (+5 percent) led growth, while South Asia and in North-East Asia recorded an increase of 4 percent.

A few leading source markets have driven tourism expenditure in 2015 supported by a strong currency and economy.

Among the world’s top source markets, China, with double-digit growth in expenditure every year since 2004, continues to lead global outbound travel, benefitting Asian destinations such as Japan and Thailand, as well as the United States and various European destinations.

By contrast, expenditure from the previously very dynamic source markets of the Russian Federation and Brazil declined significantly, reflecting the economic constraints in both countries and the depreciation of the rouble and the real against virtually all other currencies.

As for the traditional advanced economy source markets, expenditure from the United States (+9 percent), the world’s second largest source market, and the United Kingdom (+6 percent) was boosted by a strong currency and rebounding economy. Spending from Germany, Italy and Australia grew at a slower rate (all at +2 percent), while demand from Canada and France was rather weak.