São Paulo – International tourism was up 5% in the first nine months this year from the same period last year, to 845 million people worldwide, according to information released by the United Nations (UN), based on figures from the World Tourism Organization (WTO). There were 41 million more international tourists from January to September this year than in the same period of 2012.
According to the WTO secretary general Taleb Rifai, international tourism is growing at a higher-than-expected rate, and supporting economic growth in developed and emerging countries, creating jobs, and driving up the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the balance of payments in several destination countries.
Europe was the most sought destination in the first nine months this year. The number of travellers to the continent was up 6%, mostly due to trips to Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Central and Southern Europe. The 6% rate, according to the WTO, is twice as high as the average rate of growth for Europe since 2000.
The number of tourists to the Asia-Pacific region has also increased, by 12%, mostly coming from Southeast Asia. According to the WTO, tourism in the Americas displayed lacklustre performance, up 3% and driven mostly by arrivals in the United States. Tourism was up 5% in Central Africa and only 0.3% in the Middle East.
The Russians and the Chinese topped the travel ranking. Trips by people residing in Russia and China were up 29% and 22%, respectively, during the period. International travels were up 3% among Canadians, and 2% for North Americans, the British, and the French. There was no increase in number tourists from Germany, Australia, Italy, and Japan.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
