Photo. A Maasai
from Kenya. Africa had the biggest increasing of tourists in the previous year.
People don`t stop travelling in spite uncertainity. Travelling is more popular
than ever.
Although 2005 was certainly a tumultuous year, international tourism has
fared amazingly well. Despite various terrorist attacks and natural disasters,
such as the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami and an extraordinarily long
and strong hurricane season, the recovery, which started in 2004, continued
firmly through 2005.
Based on detailed results for a large number of destinations included in
the January 2006 issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the number
of international tourist arrivals in 2005 is estimated at 808 million, up
from 766 million in 2004.
This corresponds not only to an increase of 5.5%, but also means a
consolidation of the bumper growth achieved in 2004 (+10%). Although growth was
more moderate, it still almost 1.5 percentage points above the long-term average
annual growth rate of 4.1%.
UNWTO Secretary-General, Francesco Frangialli commented: "The tourism
sector has gained substantially in resilience over the past years. In spite of
the turbulent environment we live in nowadays, destinations worldwide added some
100 million international arrivals between 2002 and 2005."
Results by region
Africa led the way in 2005,
with growth estimated at 10%. Growth was stronger in Sub-Saharan Africa (+13%)
with particularly remarkable results for Kenya (+26% between January and October
compared with the same period of the previous year) following an already buoyant
2004.
Threats
It`s also commentet in the report that
the further spread of avian flu, could be a serious threat for the tourism
sector.
Anyway it`s an growing optimism! If there is no big set backs,
it`s expected that it will be an increasing in tourism the coming years.
For more detailed information, click on the link:
http://www.world-tourism.org/newsroom/Releases/2006/january/06_01_24.htm
Stein Morten Lund, 4 April
2006
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