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29 Jun, 2011

China Travel Boom Helps Global Tourism Near US$3 billion/day Mark

The most significant change among the top ten destinations by international arrivals in 2010 was the rise of China to third position, according to the UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2011 Edition, released today. China ousted Spain for third place, and has overtaken both the United Kingdom and Italy during the past few years. In terms of receipts, China (+15%) also moved up the ranking to fourth position, overtaking Italy (+1%).

China also moved into third place in the top ten ranking by international tourism spenders, with an expenditure of US$ 55 billion, overtaking the United Kingdom (US$ 49 billion). China has shown by far the fastest growth with regard to expenditure on international tourism in the last decade, multiplying expenditure four times since 2000, the UNWTO report says. Ranking as the seventh biggest source market in 2005, it has since overtaken Italy, Japan, France and the United Kingdom.

Available for free download here, the overview of international tourism in 2010 includes key trends, the ranking of the world’s top tourism destinations and an overview of international tourist arrivals and tourism receipts for all world regions. It also covers outbound tourism and lists the world’s biggest tourism spenders.

Other key trends in 2010:

  • International tourist arrivals reached 940 million and tourism receipts generated US$ 919 billion
  • Travel for leisure, recreation and holidays accounted for just over half of all international tourist arrivals
  • Slightly over half of all travellers arrived at their destination by air
  • France maintained its position as the world’s number one tourism destination.

The booklet, available for free download, offers statistics and analysis on international tourist arrivals, international tourism receipts, a summary of results by region, major regional destinations by arrivals and receipts, outbound tourism, generating regions as well as the ranking of top tourism destinations by arrivals and receipts, and the top spenders list.

EXCERPTS

International tourism – key to development, prosperity and well-being

Over time, an ever increasing number of destinations have opened up and invested in tourism development, turning modern tourism into a key driver of socio-economic progress through the creation of jobs and enterprises, infrastructure development and the export revenues earned.

As an internationally traded service, inbound tourism has become one of the world’s major trade categories. The overall export income generated by inbound tourism, including passenger transport, exceeded US$ 1 trillion in 2010, or close to US$ 3 billion a day. Tourism exports account for as much as 30% of the world’s exports of commercial services and 6% of overall exports of goods and services. Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. For many developing countries it is one of the main sources of foreign exchange income and the number one export category, creating much needed employment and opportunities for development.

2010: a multi-speed recovery

In 2010, world tourism recovered more strongly than expected from the shock it suffered in late 2008 and 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis and economic recession. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals reached 940 million in 2010, up 6.6% over the previous year. The vast majority of destinations reported positive and often double-digit increases, sufficient to offset losses or bring them close to this target. Recovery came at different speeds – much faster in most emerging economies (+8%) and slower in most advanced ones (+5%).

Overview International Tourism

Asia and the Pacific (+13%) was the first region to recover and among the strongest growing regions in 2010. Africa maintained growth (+7%) and the Middle East returned to double digit growth (+14%).

While the Americas rebounded (+6%) from the decline in 2009, Europe’s (+3%) recovery was slower than in other regions.

International tourism receipts are estimated to have reached US$ 919 billion (693 billion euros) in 2010, up from US$ 851 billion (610 billion euros) in the previous year. In absolute terms, international tourism receipts increased by US$ 68 billion (83 billion euros, as the

US dollar appreciated some 5% against the euro).

Growth in international tourism receipts is estimated at 4.7% in 2010, measured in real terms, i.e. using local currencies at constant prices in order to adjust for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation. Thus, the recovery in international tourism receipts (+4.7%) still lags that of international arrivals (+6.6%).

World’s Top Tourism Destinations

When ranked according to the two key tourism indicators – international tourist arrivals and international tourism receipts – it is interesting to note that eight of the top ten destinations appear in both lists, even though they show marked differences in terms of the characteristics of the tourists they attract, as well of their average length of stay and their spending per trip and per night.

The most significant change among the top ten by international arrivals in 2010 was the rise of China to third position, ousting Spain, having overtaken both the United Kingdom and Italy during the past few years. In terms of receipts, China (+15%) also moved up the ranking to fourth position, overtaking Italy (+1%). Furthermore, among the ranking by receipts,

Hong Kong (China) entered the top ten at nine, moving up from the 12th position.

Asia and the Pacific – first region to recover

International tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific reached a historic high of 204 million in 2010, some 24 million more than in 2009 and 20 million above the 2008 pre-crisis peak. The region’s 13% growth in 2010 was double the world average and, following a modest 2% decline in 2009, confirms Asia as the world’s strongest growing region of the past two years. Most destinations posted double-digit growth, boosted by the strong development of local economies in the region. Receipts grew, accordingly, by 13% in real terms to US$ 249 billion.

Middle East – a return to double-digit growth

The Middle East was the fastest growing region in 2010 (+14%), but this followed a significant drop in 2009 (-4%). Boosted by intraregional travel favoured by high oil prices, the region reached 60 million arrivals in 2010, up 7.5 million on 2009 and 5 million compared with the peak year of 2008. International tourism receipts are estimated to have increased as

well, by 14% in real terms to US$ 50 billion. Almost all destinations recorded double-digit increases in arrivals, such as: Syria (+40%), Palestine (+32%), Jordan (+20%), Egypt (+18%) and Lebanon (+17%). The exception was Saudi Arabia, the second largest destination of the region, showing flat results.

Most travellers stay in own region

The large majority of international travel takes place within the traveller’s own region, with about four out of five worldwide arrivals originating from the same region.

Source markets for international tourism are still largely concentrated in the industrialized countries of Europe, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific. However, with rising levels of disposable income, many emerging economies have shown fast growth over recent years,

especially in a number of markets in North-East and South-East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southern Africa and South America.

International tourism’s top spenders – China enters the top three

(Data as collected by UNWTO, June 2011)

The top ten ranking by international tourism spenders shows one remarkable change in 2010, with China (US$ 55 billion) moving up into third position, overtaking the United Kingdom (US$ 49 billion). China has shown by far the fastest growth with regard to expenditure on international tourism in the last decade, multiplying expenditure four times since 2000. Ranking as the seventh biggest source market in 2005, it has since overtaken, respectively, Italy, Japan, France and the United Kingdom.

Forecasts

UNWTO s Tourism 2020 Vision projects that international arrivals are expected to reach nearly 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Of these worldwide arrivals in 2020, 1.2 billion will be intraregional and 0.4 billion will be long-haul travellers.

East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa are forecast to grow at over 5% per year, compared to the world average of 4.1%. More mature regions Europe and the Americas are anticipated to show lower-than-average growth rates. Europe will maintain the highest share of world arrivals, although this share will decline from 60% in 1995 to 46% in 2020.

The total tourist arrivals by region shows that, by 2020, the top three receiving regions will be Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia (397 million) and the Americas (282 million), followed by Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.