UNWTO: INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS UP

International tourist arrivals worldwide were up by four percent year-on-year (y-o-y) in H1 2016. Destinations worldwide received 561 million international tourists (overnight visitors), 21 million more than in 2015, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Asia and the Pacific demonstrated renewed strength this first half of 2016, receiving nine percent more international arrivals, the highest growth across world regions. “Tourism has proven to be one of the most resilient economic sectors worldwide. It is creating jobs for millions, at a time when providing perspectives for a better future to people of all regions is one of our biggest challenges. But tourism is also creating bonds among people of all nations and backgrounds, bringing down stereotypes and fighting fear and distrust,” said UNWTO SecretaryGeneral, Taleb Rifai. According to him, safety and security are key pillars of tourism development. China, the world’s top source market, continued to report double-digit growth in expenditure on international travel (+20 percent in Q1 2016), benefiting destinations in the region and beyond. The United States, the world’s second largest market, increased expenditure on outbound travel by eight percent through July, thanks to a strong currency. Third largest market, Germany, reported a four percent increase in expenditure through July. On September 27, World Tourism Day was celebrate in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme of ‘Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility’.