Tourism arrivals look healthy for 2011
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International tourist arrivals grew by close to 5% during the first months of 2011, consolidating the 7% rebound registered in 2010. Among the top performing regions, South Asia grew by 15%, according to the April Interim Update of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.Growth was positive in all world (sub)regions during January and February 2011, with the exception of the Middle East and North Africa. Asia and the Pacific, the region with one of the fastest growth rates in 2010, saw its pace of growth slow down (+6%), although from a very strong performance the previous year. Results were better than expected for Europe (+6%), boosted by the recovery of Central and Eastern Europe, and the temporary redistribution of travel to destinations in Southern and Mediterranean Europe due to developments in North Africa (-9%) and the Middle East (-10%). The Americas (+5%) was in line with the world average, with strong results for South America and the Caribbean, but rather weaker growth in North and Central America. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals surpassed 124 million in the first two months of 2011, up from 119 million in the same period of 2010. “These results confirm that in spite of several challenges, the recovery of international tourism which was remarkably strong last year is consolidating”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai in Istanbul.In 2010, international tourism receipts are estimated to have reached US$ 919 billion worldwide, up from US$ 851 billion in 2009. In real terms (adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation) international tourism receipts increased by 5% as compared to an almost 7% growth in arrivals, showing the close relation between both indicators and confirming that in recovery years, arrivals tend to pick up faster than receipts.
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