UNWTO: Europe still the world's most visited tourist region

UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai reported (27-May-2016) there were 29 million more international tourists in Europe in 2015 than in 2014, raising the total in the region to 609 million. Tourism, "has been a major contributor to the European economy" during a period of slow economic recovery, with the industry generating EUR404 billion in exports. Mr Rifai noted that challenges facing the European tourism sector include a rapidly changing consumer market, the impact of technology, the emergence of new business models, man-made and natural crises, and the "quest to make our sector more sustainable and more responsible." For 2015, Europe was the world's most visited region with 609 million international tourist arrivals (51% of the world's total). [more - original PR]