Asia Pacific leads international visitor arrivals in Aug-2010: UNWTO

UNWTO released the Aug-2010 edition of its World Tourism Barometer on 02-Sep-2010, which estimates international tourist arrivals rose 7% year-on-year to 421 million in 1H2010 with the recovery trend beginning in 1Q2010 expected to continue in the second half of the year at a more moderate rate. UNWTO also provided estimates by region:

• International arrivals: +7% year-on-year;
  • Emerging economies: +8%;
    • Asia Pacific: +14%;
      • Sri Lanka: +49%;
      • Japan: +36%;
      • Vietnam: +35%;
      • Myanmar: +35%;
      • Hong Kong: +23%;
      • Macau: +23%;
      • Singapore: +23%;
      • Fiji: +22%;
      • Maldives: +21%;
      • Thailand: +14%;
    • Middle East: +20%;
    • Africa: +7%;
  • Advanced economies: +6%;
    • Americas: +7%;
    • Europe: +2%. [more]

UNWTO: "Although we are witnessing a clear recovery in international tourism, we must remain cautious … in many advanced economies, namely in the US and in some major European markets, economic recovery has still to consolidate. To this we must add the recent introduction and increase in taxation, most specifically those which directly impact the tourism sector, such as air transport taxes. While we fully understand the need to balance public accounts, one-sided decisions on taxation risk adversely impacting a sector with a proven track record for job creation and economic growth, as one of the major generators of exports earnings and income sources for developing countries, which are crucial to a stable economic recovery," Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General. Source: UNWTO, 02-Sep-2010

UNWTO: "With consumers tending to travel closer to home in times of downturns, domestic tourism has been experiencing significant growth … coupled with regional tourism, domestic tourism can thus serve as an important driver of development and growth, in particular during times of economic uncertainty. China is an excellent example of how to foster domestic tourism," Márcio Favilla, Executive Director. Source: UNWTO, 02-Sep-2010.