INTERNATIONAL tourist arrivals jumped 4.4 per cent last year and brought the total to more than 1.1 billion, making 2015 the sixth consecutive year of above-average growth, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer report.
By region, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific recorded around five per cent growth in 2015.
Europe, supported mainly by a weaker euro, saw arrivals reaching 609 million. Central and eastern Europe grew 6 per cent from 2014’s decrease in arrivals while northern Europe, southern Mediterranean Europe and western Europe recorded six, five and four per cent growth respectively.
Asia and the Pacific recorded 13 million more international tourist arrivals, touching 277 million, with Oceania and South-east Asia leading growth at seven and five per cent each, while south Asia and north-east Asia recorded a growth of four per cent.
Meanwhile, international tourist arrivals reached 191 million in the Caribbean and central America which recorded seven per cent growth, while south and north America both grew by 4 per cent, close to average.
Arrivals to the Middle East increased by 3 per cent, totalling 54 million, while Africa, although with limited available data, recorded a decrease of about 3 per cent to 53 million arrivals.
Overall, advanced economy destinations grew five per cent, exceeding the growth of emerging economies that is marked at four per cent, boosted by solid results from Europe.
“2015 results were influenced by exchange rates, oil prices and natural and manmade crises in many parts of the world,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, UNWTO.
“As the current environment highlights in a particular manner the issues of safety and security, we should recall that tourism development greatly depends upon our collective capacity to promote safe, secure and seamless travel.”
