2007 to be fourth year of sustained growth - UNWTO

Madrid, November 6, 2006 – World tourism demand continues to exceed expectations, showing resilience against extraneous factors. According to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, released today:

• In the first eight months of 2006 international tourist arrivals totalled 578 million worldwide (+4.5%), up from 553 million in the same period of 2005, a year which saw an all-time record of 806 million people travelling internationally.
• Growth is expected to continue in 2007 at a pace of around 4% worldwide.

The expected 4% growth for 2007, though slightly slower than in previous years, is much in line with the UNWTO long-term forecast growth rate of 4.1% a year through 2020.

The short term outlook remains very positive, especially against the background of a strong world economy and as favourable exchange rates continue to encourage European and Asian travellers. International tourism is likely to remain buoyant unless major incidents occur.

Africa leads in growth

With an expected rate of +10.6% for 2006, Africa is this year again the world’s regional leader in terms of growth. Between January and August international tourist arrivals increased by 9.8%.

Sub-Saharan Africa (+12.6%) leads the performance so far, pulled notably by South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland and the Seychelles. At the same time, in North Africa (+5.9%), the two main destinations, Morocco (+9.3%) and Tunisia (+2.6%), have experienced somewhat different growth paces.