UNWTO forecasts 1.8 billion international tourist arrivals by 2030
International tourist arrivals are forecast to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report released October 11, 2011.
The UNWTO report titled “Tourism Towards 2030” which was presented at the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in South Korea, confirms that international tourism will continue to grow in a sustained manner in the next two decades.
The UN agency indicates that international tourism will continue to grow within 2010-2030 periods but at a more moderate pace than the past decades, with international tourist arrivals increasing by an average 3.3% a year.
As a result, an average 43 million additional international tourists will join the tourism marketplace every year, it noted.
“At the projected pace of growth, arrivals will pass the 1 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 for leisure, business or other purposes such as visiting friends and family every day,” says UNWTO.
“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 in a statement. “This growth offers immense possibilities as these can also be years of leadership, with tourism leading economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability.”
According to UNWTO, emerging economies will continue to gain market share.
“International arrivals in emerging economy destinations are expected to continue growing at double the pace (+4.4% year) of advanced ones (+2.2% a 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 the advanced economies of North America, Europe and Asia and the Pacific,” it said.
By Ekow Quandzie