WTO: confidence in tourism sector gradually picking up

UNWTO updated (06-Nov-2009) its Worldwide Tourism Barometer, finding international tourist arrivals declined by 7% between Jan-2009 and Aug-2009, to 600 million arrivals, but the rate of decline has eased over recent months. These results, as well as the most recent economic data, confirm UNWTO's initial forecast of a 5% decline in international tourist arrivals for the full year 2009. For 2010, UNWTO expects moderate growth. The UNWTO Confidence Index survey reported negative outlook for the next four months has decreased from 62% to 42% while, for 30% prospects are 'equal', and for 28% they are 'better' or 'much better'.

Regional traffic:

• Europe: -8%, destinations in Central and Eastern Europe most affected;
• Asia Pacific: -5%, show clearest signs of improvement with growth already positive in Aug-2009 driven by the encouraging results of North-East Asia;
• Americas: -7%, no clear signs of a reversal in the current decline trend. Growth continued to be fairly negative during the second quarter as well as in the months of Jul/Aug-2009. South America has shown the best performance so far (-1%);
• Middle East: -8%, down on the growth levels of previous years, already saw a shift to positive growth between Jun-2009 and Sep-2009;
• Africa: +4%, very positive given the current difficult environment. [more]