Tourist numbers to increase 91% by 2030
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International tourist numbers are forecast to increase 91% over the next two decades to reach 1.8 billion by 2030 according to the newly released UNWTO long-term forecast, ‘Tourism Towards 2030’.
The report, presented at the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Korea, predicts that international tourism will continue to grow over the next 20 years, but at a more moderate pace than the past decades, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. As a result, an average 43 million additional international tourists will join the tourism marketplace every year.
At the projected pace of growth, arrivals will pass the one billion mark by 2012, up from 940 million in 2010. By 2030, arrivals are expected to reach 1.8 billion, meaning that in two decades time, five million people will be crossing international borders every day.
“The next 20 years will be of continued growth for the sector – a more moderate, responsible and inclusive growth,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “This growth offers immense possibilities as these can also be years of leadership, with tourism leading economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability.”
International arrivals in emerging economy destinations are expected to continue growing at double the pace (+4.4% per year) of advanced ones (+2.2% per year). In absolute terms, the emerging economies of Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean Europe, the Middle East and Africa will gain an average 30 million arrivals a year, compared to 14 million in the traditional destinations of North America, Europe and Asia and the Pacific.
By 2015, emerging nations will receive more international tourist arrivals than advanced economies, and by 2030 their share is expected to reach 58%. Asia Pacific is expected to see its share of international tourist arrivals rising from 22% in 2010 to 30% in 2030 – a market share second only to Europe, which will decline to 41% in 2030 from 51% today.
By 2030, Northeast Asia will be the most visited sub-region in the world, representing 16% of total arrivals and taking over from Southern and Mediterranean Europe, which is forecast to hold a 15% share in 2030.
A large proportion of the arrivals of the next two decades will originate from the countries of Asia Pacific, growing at a rate of 5.0% a year and generating an average 17 million additional international arrivals every year. Europe follows with an average 16 million extra arrivals a year, resulting from a much more moderate growth rate (+2.5% a year), but on top of a much larger base. The remaining 10 million additional yearly arrivals are generated by the Americas (five million), Africa (three million) and the Middle East (two million).
“Tourism Towards 2030 shows that there is still significant potential for further expansion in the coming decades. Established, as well as new destinations, can benefit from this trend and opportunity, provided they shape the appropriate conditions and policies with regard to business environment, infrastructure, facilitation, marketing and human resources,” said Rifai. “Nevertheless, alongside this opportunity, challenges will also arise in terms of maximising tourism’s social and economic benefits while minimizing negative impacts. As such, it is more important than ever that all tourism development be guided by the principles of sustainable development.”