According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer international tourist arrivals grew by a remarkable seven per cent in 2017 to reach a total of 1.3 billion.
It was above the sustained and consistent trend of four per cent or higher growth since 2010 and represented the strongest results in seven years.
It was revealed that Asia-Pacific recorded six per cent growth with 324 million international tourist arrivals in 2017.
The arrivals in South Asia grew 10 per cent, South-east Asia saw eight per cent , Oceania had seven per cent and three per cent in North-east Asia.
It was revealed that International travel saw strongest growth in seven years
There was a rebound in tourism spending from Brazil and Russia and a sustained growth in many destinations and a firm recovery in those that suffered decreases in previous years.
Tourism was driven by the global economic upswing and the robust outbound demand from many traditional and emerging source markets.
Mediterranean destinations, the mature region of Europe recorded 671 million international tourist arrivals in 2017 with a remarkable eight per cent increase following a comparatively weaker 2016.
The Americas welcomed 207 million international tourist arrivals in 2017 with three per cent growth.
Most destinations showed positive results it was seven per cent for South America, and four per cent for Central America and the Caribbean.
There was more than two percent growth in North America, Mexico and Canada’s robust results contrasted with a decrease in the US.
Middle East recorded five per cent growth with 58 million international tourist arrivals in 2017.
At a rate of four to five per cent the current strong momentum is expected to continue in 2018 which is above 3.8 per cent average increase projected for the period 2010-2020 by UNWTO in its Tourism Towards 2030 long-term forecast.
Tags: asia pacific, caribbean, Europe, UNWTO
