UNWTO: international tourism up 5%

International tourist arrivals grew by five per cent between January and April 2016, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

The report found that results were robust across almost all subregions, with many destinations reported double-digit growth. Prospects for May-August remain positive, with around 500 million tourists expected to travel abroad in the Northern Hemisphere summer holiday peak season.

Destinations worldwide received 348 million international tourists (overnight visitors) between January and April 2016, some 18 million more than the same period last year (+5.3 per cent). This follows an increase of 4.6 per cent in 2015, and could make 2016 the seventh consecutive year of above-average growth, with international arrivals increasing by four per cent or more every year following the crisis in 2009.

By region, Asia and the Pacific recorded the highest increase in international arrivals at nine per cent, with all Asian subregions enjoying growth of seven per cent or above. By subregion, Subsaharan Africa led growth at 13 per cent, strongly rebounding from previous years’ modest results.

UNWTO forecasts international tourist arrivals to increase by 3.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent over the full year 2016, in line with UNWTO’s long-term projection of 3.8 per cent growth a year for the period 2010 to 2020.