International tourism grew by almost five percent in the first half of the year, recording a record 440 million arrivals, the World Tourism Organisation said Thursday. The results show that "in spite of multiple challenges, international tourism continues to consolidate the return to growth initiated in 2010," the UN body said in its report.
"Between January and June of this year, the total number of arrivals reached 440 million, 19 million more than in the same period of 2010," the body said from its Madrid headquarters.
The rise of almost five percent in international tourism over the period set "a new record of 440 million arrivals," the tourism organisation reported. The emerging economies are the motor for this rise of the sector from the economic crisis which scarred all sectors in 2008.
These nations saw a 4.8 percent growth in their international tourism sectors. The Middle East posted an 11 percent drop in the sector, while North Africa was down 13 percent after the "Arab spring" of popular uprisings hit the tourist sector hard. Asia and the Pacific grew at a comparatively slower pace of five percent, but this came after bumper 13 percent growth last year.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.