Global travel spending grows, but pace declines

NEW YORK — Global travel spending is still growing, although at a slower pace, despite weakening economies and fears over terrorism.

The World Travel and Tourism Council, a group backed by travel providers with the mission to promote tourism, said in a report Monday that global travel spending for 2016 is expected to grow by 3.1 percent. That is down from a March forecast of 3.3 percent but still outpacing global economic growth, which the group expects to be 2.3 percent.

Macroeconomic problems have a much bigger effect on travel than terrorist attacks, the group’s president, David Scowsill, said.

“Travelers aren’t going to allow isolated terrorist attacks to put them off traveling,” he said. Tourists worried about safety in France have chosen Spain or Italy instead, for example.

Scowsill said destinations with tourist-specific attacks usually take two years to recover, while other types of attacks lead to a faster resumption of travel.

Other travel groups are also seeing the slowdown in travel spending.

The International Air Transport Association recently noted that while more people are flying, the trend “has moderated,” and the percentage of seats occupied has slipped.

“The fragile and uncertain economic backdrop, political shocks and a wave of terrorist attacks are all contributing to a softer demand environment,” the group’s head, Tony Tyler, said in a statement.

And back in April, the Global Business Travel Association warned of slowing volume from U.S.- originating business travelers.

The World Travel and Tourism Council breaks down expected 2016 travel spending this way:

• South Asia leads growth at 5.9 percent, driven by strong economic prospects in India.

• Latin America is expected to be the worst performer, with an anticipated decline of 0.9 percent, driven by weakness in Brazil.

• Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia are seen growing at 4.7 percent and 4 percent respectively, stimulated by China growing at 6.3 percent.

• North America matches the global growth rate of 3.1 percent.

• Europe is expected to face challenges and only grow by 2.2 percent.

It’s a different story in the United Kingdom. Growth there is expected to exceed the rest of Europe at 3.6 percent. The group expects weaker domestic spending and a 3 percent drop in outbound U.K. trips. But it expects all of that to be offset by higher spending in the U.K. by international visitors benefiting from greater spending power as a result of the weaker British pound.