Americas
In the Americas (+2.7%), growth was below average, a result much influenced by the performance of North America. Results for destinations in North America (-0.4%) were well under this average due to the continued poor performance of Canada (-4%), struggling with an extraordinarily strong Canadian dollar, and the foreseen drop of Mexico (-2%), still recovering from the damage brought by Hurricane Wilma, which hit the Yucatan Peninsula last October. However, there are encouraging signs in Mexico as April was the first month to show positive growth in terms of international arrivals since November 2005. Arrivals in the USA more or less stagnated (+0.5% through March), but it is important to note that these results do not include April data, which will surely show the positive impact of the Easter holidays.

By contrast, all other American subregions reported an above average performance. In the Caribbean (+7%), major destinations such as the Dominican Republic (+12%) and Jamaica (+16%) posted double-digit growth rates. Meanwhile, while Central America (+11%) has sustained its impressive double-digit growth level achieved in 2004 and 2005, South America’s growth (+8%) appears to have slowed slightly, in spite of the fact that many destinations like Paraguay (+23%), Peru (+16% through March), Colombia (+15%) and Argentina (+12% for quarter one) ended the first months of 2006 with double-digit increases.

Africa and the Middle East
Africa and the Middle East again led the way in terms of growth in 2006 as they did in 2005, with an estimated increase of around 11% each. In Africa, growth was stronger in Sub-Saharan Africa (+12%) with particularly remarkable results for Kenya (+14% between January and March) and the Seychelles (+11% Jan-May). In North Africa (+9%), results were somewhat mixed, with Tunisia recording an increase of 3% between January and April while Morocco posted an encouraging 17% growth for the same period.

In the Middle East (+11%), Egypt’s 3% increase through May can be considered very positive overall. The country has suffered more than its fair share of difficulties in the past few years, but has proved to be well experienced at restoring confidence. Lebanon (+49%) and Bahrain (+30%) report the highest growth rates in the region so far this year, while the United Arab Emirate of Dubai (+7%) and Jordan (+5%) grew at healthy but more moderate rates. Available data, however, is rather limited for both Africa and the Middle East, so the picture could still change.