UNWTO reports 5% rise in worldwide int'l tourist arrivals in 2011, tourism receipts up 11%

UNWTO reports (21-Jun-2012) worldwide international tourist arrivals rose 4.6% year-on-year to 983 million in 2011. International tourism receipts reached USD1030 billion, up from USD927 billion in 2010. Details include:

• International arrivals: 983 million, +4.6% year-on-year;
  • By region:
    • Europe: 504 million, +6.2%;
    • Asia and the Pacific: 217 million, +6.1%;
    • Americas: 156.6 million, +3.9%;
    • Africa: 50.2 million, +0.9%;
    • Middle East: 55.4 million, -8.0%;
  • Top destinations by international arrivals:
    • France: 79.5 million, +3.0%;
    • US: 62.3 million, +4.2%;
    • China: 57.6 million, +3.4%;
    • Spain: 56.7 million, +7.6%;
    • Italy: 46.1 million, +5.7%;
    • Turkey: 29.3 million, +8.7%;
    • UK: 29.2 million, +3.2%;
    • Germany: 28.4 million, +5.5%;
    • Malaysia: 24.7 million, +0.6%;
    • Mexico: 23.4 million, +0.5%.
• International tourism receipts: USD1030 billion, +11.1%;
  • Top destinations by international tourism receipts:
    • US: USD116.3 billion, +12.3%;
    • Spain: USD59.9 billion, +14%;
    • France: USD53.8 billion, +15.6%;
    • China: USD48.5 billion, +5.8%;
    • Italy: USD43 billion, +10.9%;
    • Germany: USD38.8 billion, +12%;
    • UK: USD35.9 billion, +10.9%;
    • Australia: USD31.4 billion, +5.5%;
    • Hong Kong: USD27.7 billion, +24.7%. [more - original PR]

According to Tourism Towards 2030 - UNWTO's recent long-term outlook and assessment of the development of tourism for the two decades from 2010 to 2030 - the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide is expected to increase by an average 3.3% a year over the period 2010 to 2030. Over time, the rate of growth will gradually slow down, from 3.8% in 2011 to 2.5% in 2030, but on top of growing base numbers. In absolute numbers, international tourist arrivals will increase by some 43 million a year, compared to an average increase of 28 million a year during the period 1995 to 2010. At the projected pace of growth, international tourist arrivals worldwide will exceed 1 billion in 2012 and reach 1.8 billion by the year 2030.