Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Society, Tourism
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Friday, 26.04.2024, 20:27
Over 1.1 bln tourists travelled abroad in 2014
The
number of international tourists (overnight visitors) reached 1,138 million in
2014, 51 million more than in 2013. With an increase of 4.7%, this is the fifth
consecutive year of above average growth since the 2009 economic crisis.
“Over the past years, tourism has proven to be a surprisingly strong and
resilient economic activity and a fundamental contributor to the economic
recovery by generating billions of dollars in exports and creating millions of
jobs. This has been true for destinations all around the world, but
particularly for Europe, as the region struggles to consolidate its way out of
one of the worst economic periods in its history,” said UNWTO Secretary-General,
Taleb Rifai, opening the Spain
Global Tourism Forum in Madrid.
By region, the Americas (+7%) and Asia and the Pacific (+5%) registered the
strongest growth, while Europe (+4%), the Middle East (+4%) and Africa (+2%)
grew at a slightly more modest pace. By subregion, North America (+8%) saw the
best results, followed by North-East Asia, South Asia, Southern and
Mediterranean Europe, Northern Europe and the Caribbean, all increasing by 7%.
As in recent years, the growth in international tourism receipts in 2014 is
expected to have followed that of arrivals fairly close (the 2014 results for
international tourism receipts will be released in April 2015). In 2013,
international tourism receipts reached US$ 1,187 billion, US$ 230 billion more
than in the pre-crisis year of 2008.
Positive outlook for 2015
For
2015, UNWTO forecasts international tourist arrivals to grow between 3% and 4%.
By region, growth is expected to be stronger in Asia and the Pacific (+4% to
+5%) and the Americas (+4% to +5%), followed by Europe (+3% to +4%). Arrivals
are expected to increase by +3% to +5% in Africa and by +2% to +5% in the
Middle East.
“We expect demand to continue growing in 2015 as the global economic situation
improves even though there are still plenty of challenges ahead. On the
positive side, oil prices have declined to a level not seen since 2009. This
will lower transport costs and boost economic growth by lifting purchasing
power and private demand in oil importing economies. Yet, it could also
negatively impact some of the oil exporting countries which have emerged as
strong tourism source markets,” added Mr Rifai.
The positive outlook for 2015 is confirmed by the UNWTO Confidence Index.
According to the 300 tourism experts consulted worldwide for the Index, tourism
performance is expected to improve in 2015, though expectations are less upbeat
than a year ago.
Europe consolidates its position as the most visited region in the world
Europe (+4%), the most visited region with over half of
the world’s international tourists, saw an increase of 22 million arrivals in
2014, reaching a total of 588 million. Thanks to these results, tourism has
been a major contributor to the European economic recovery. Northern Europe and
Southern and Mediterranean Europe led growth (both +7%), while results were
more modest in Western Europe (+2%). Arrivals in Central and Eastern Europe
(0%) stagnated after three years of strong growth.
International tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific (+5%)
increased by 13 million to 263 million. The best performance was recorded in
North-East Asia and South Asia (both +7%). Arrivals in Oceania grew by 6%,
while growth slowed down in South-East Asia (+2%) as compared to previous
years.
The Americas was the best performing region in relative terms
with growth of 7%, welcoming an additional 13 million international tourists
and raising the total to 181 million. Growth was driven by North America (+8%),
where Mexico posted a double-digit increase, and the Caribbean (+7%). Arrivals
to Central America and South America (both +6%) grew at double the rate
recorded in 2013 and well above the world average.
International tourism in the Middle East (+4%) shows signs of
rebound with good results in most destinations. The region attracted an additional
2 million arrivals, bringing the total to 50 million. Africa’s
international tourist numbers grew by an estimated 2%, equivalent to an
increase of one million arrivals. The region reached 56 million tourists. While
arrivals to North Africa were weak (+1%), Sub-Saharan Africa saw international
tourist numbers rise by 3% despite the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in a few
West African countries. Data for Africa and the Middle East should be read with
caution as it is based on limited and volatile data.
Demand from traditional source markets picks up
A pickup in expenditure on
international tourism from traditional source markets compensated for the
slowdown of the large emerging markets, which had been driving tourism growth
in previous years.
The total number of trips abroad from China is estimated to have increased by
11 million to 109 million in 2014. Expenditure was up by 17% in the first three
quarters of 2014, a strong result but slower than in previous years (40% in
2012 and 26% in 2013, respectively). China is the world’s largest outbound
market since 2012 with a total expenditure of US$ 129 billion in 2013.
Among the other two main emerging markets, the Russian Federation (-6%) clearly
lost strength in 2014, while Brazil still grew by 2%, despite the appreciation
of the US dollar against the Brazilian real and slower economic growth. Beyond
the top ten, some smaller emerging markets saw expenditure grow substantially,
with Saudi Arabia, India, the Philippines and Qatar all reporting increases of 30%
or over.
A pickup in demand from traditional source markets compensated for the slowdown
of the large emerging markets. Expenditure from the United States, the second
largest outbound market in the world, grew by 6%. Noteworthy is also the
rebound of France (+11%), Italy (+6%) and the United Kingdom (+4%).