International tourist arrivals are this year expected to rise by between 4 percent and 4,5 percent above the initial forecast of 3,8 percent, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has said.
International tourist arrivals in 2013 reached 1 087 billion, rising from 1 035 billion in 2012.
“For the full year 2014, international tourist arrivals are expected to increase by 4 percent to 4,5 percent, slightly above UNWTO’s long-term forecast of 3,8 percent per year for the period 2010 to 2020,” the UNWTO said in its latest world tourism barometer which showed a 5 percent increase in traffic for the period January to August this year.
The growth was despite “geopolitical challenges” experienced in some regions.
“International tourists (overnight visitors) travelling the world between January and August 2014 reached 781 million, 36 million more than in the same period of 2013,” the UNWTO said.
“With a 5 percent increase, international tourism continued to grow well above the long-term trend projected by UNWTO for the period 2010-2020 (+3.8 percent).”
Growth was strongest in the Americas (+8 percent), followed by Asia and the Pacific (+5 percent) and Europe, which registered a 4 percent increase.
Africa recorded a 3 percent growth with North Africa and the Sub-Sahara region recording 4 percent and 3 percent increases respectively.
Commenting on the figures, UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai said international tourism continued to grow above expectations.
“Yet, increasing geopolitical uncertainties and the fact that the global economy shows signs of weaker and uneven growth require our attention,” he said.
Commenting on the effects of the Ebola outbreak in some parts of West Africa, Mr Rifai said it had not yet had a big impact on tourist inflows to Africa. – New Ziana.