According to the United Nations, International tourism reached record levels in 2015. Tourism is up by 4.4 percent in the past 12 months where there were 1.2 billion arrivals for overnight trips worldwide.
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said this was driven by a few leading markets including China, the USA and the U.K. It was reported that U.K.'s expenditure grew by 6 percent last year partly because of a 'strong currency and rebounding econom.'
Incoming tourism grew by around 5 percent in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, while arrivals to the Middle East increased by 3 percent. It is estimated that there was a 3 percent decline in Africa, although limited data were available.
UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai said that International tourism reached new heights in 2015 with the robust performance of the sector is contributing to economic growth and job creation in many parts of the world.
He added: 'It is thus critical for countries to promote policies that foster the continued growth of tourism, including travel facilitation, human resources development and sustainability.' The UNWTO's confidence index remains 'largely positive for 2016,' although growth is expected to fall slightly to 4 percent. Based on the current trend and this outlook, UNWTO projects international tourist arrivals to grow by 4 percent worldwide in 2016.
2015 marks the sixth consecutive year of above-average growth, with international arrivals increasing by 4 percent or more every year since the post-crisis year of 2010.
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.
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