Tourism in the World

"Tourism has become a cultural phenomenon ... The scale he gained did spend a limited elite pleasure to the general level of social and economic life plan '(UNWTO General Assembly in Manila , 1980)

The World Tourism in 2000 increased by 7.4%, which was its highest growth rate over the decade and almost double the 1999 In 2000 60 million international trips were made more, equivalent the number of tourists that a country such as Spain or the United States receives in a year. The total number of international arrivals reached a record $ 697 million. During that year the receipts from international tourism reached 476 billion euros, an increase of 4.5% from the year 1999 all regions of the world have welcomed more tourists 2000.La growth has been particularly rapid in Asia Pacific is (up 14.5% to 14 million tourists more than in 1999). Europe (58% of international tourism) grew by 6.2% to 403 million arrivals (25 million more than in 1999).

In 2001 the growth of international tourism, which seemed strong, it jammed and international arrivals fell by 1.3% due to the combined effect of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the economic slowdown in major source markets for tourism. The international tourist arrivals totaled 689 million in 2001contre 697 million in 2000 According to UNWTO for the entire world during the first eight months of 2001, from January to August, arrivals increased by 3% on average, a slowdown of more than 1 point compared to the average annual growth of 4.3% that had characterized the last decade. The last four months of 2001 saw a drop of more than 11% of arrivals throughout the world and significant decreases in all regions: Africa (- 3.5%), the Americas (- 24%), Asia East - Pacific (- 10%), South Asia (- 24%), Europe (- 6%) and Middle East (- 30%). Other events have had a negative effect on tourism: The strength of the American dollar, which contributed to a 2.5% decline in arrivals in the country for the first nine months of 2001, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has affected the whole of tourism in the Middle East and the Argentine economic crisis that has affected the tourism industry in neighboring countries.

After three years of stagnant tourism recorded a spectacular rebound from 2004, during which year the number of international tourist arrivals grew by 10% compared to 2003 which proved a particularly difficult year because SARS, the war in Iraq and economic sluggishness. The Asia Pacific was one for which growth was highest (29%). In America the international tourist arrivals grew by 10% from North America 2003. On the number of tourists, which continued to fall since 2001, increased by 9% compared to the number 2003.Cependant arrivals (85 million) remained very en- below the 91 million recorded for 2000 in Central America and South America all major destinations announced strong growth (+17% and +15% respectively). Africa and the Middle East recorded growth estimated at 5% and 20% .In Africa 2004 was particularly favorable for destinations located in the northern part of the continent with an increase of 17%, while destinations in the sub-Saharan part did not record an increase of 1%. Throughout the Middle East tourism remains a very dynamic activity; with 35 million arrivals in 2004, the region became the fourth region in the world in number of visitors. In 2004 Europe was the region that recorded the least satisfactory results. European traffic grew by only 4% in 2004 and Western Europe the number of tourists has increased only 2.3% .It seems that destinations "classic" in the euro zone have suffered from competition from destinations located in North Africa and the Middle East, but also in Asia Pacific and the Americas.

"There is a saying that poplars can not go up to heaven. Growth of world tourism can not be indefinite. Moreover, it is difficult to watch (...) away (...) because, in the words Keynes, "in the long run we are all dead." For the next ten years, the conditions for further expansion appear gathered. rhythm of it still leaves room for a wide margin of uncertainty "(FRANGIALLI F. , 1991.- France in world tourism, Oxford ed., p. 23)

The year 2007 exceeded expectations with international tourist arrivals reaching - 898 million - an increase of 6% in 2007 compared to 2006 results confirm both the recent period of sustained growth and resilience of the sector to external factors. This growth is supported by the strength of the global economy for over two decades, experiencing its longest period of sustained growth.

"The growth of the economy and the tourism is driven by emerging markets and developing economies. If the long-established markets remain the leading destinations in the world, the faster growth of new markets confirms UNWTO's main message which is to emphasize the potential of tourism to developing countries, "said the Secretary-General the World Tourism Organization, Francesco Frangialli.

Of the 52 million additional arrivals around the world, Europe received some 19 million and Asia-Pacific, 17 million. The Americas earn about 6,000,000, 3,000,000 and Africa Middle East 5000000.

The different parts of the world record all growth above the long term average, the Middle East spearheading the ranking (13%), followed by Asia Pacific (10%), Africa (8% ), the Americas (5%) and Europe (4%).

The Middle East totaled 46 million international tourist arrivals and continues to be a tourist successes of the decade so far and, despite ongoing tensions and threats. This area is becoming a solid destination, visitor numbers are increasing much faster than the world total. In 2007, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were among the main destinations in terms of growth.

Against the backdrop of strong growth exceeding 7% per year since 2000, Asia-Pacific, which also boosts international tourism, attracted 185 million visitors. While Japan (+14%) starts as a destination, Malaysia (20%), Cambodia (19%), Vietnam (16%), Indonesia (15%), India (13%) and China (10%) continue to improve their growth rates.

With an estimated total of 44 million international travelers, Africa still has the wind in its sails as it continues to grow in 2006 and that since 2000, average annual growth of 7%. In 2007, North Africa (8%) appears to have been slightly better than sub-Saharan Africa (7%) results, mainly due to the 14% growth of Morocco. While several countries in SSA submit good results, the presence of the South African market continues to affirm because of the publicity surrounding the host country for the FIFA World Cup FIFA in 2010.

The Americas regain their vigor and more than doubled their growth rate was 2% in 2006, this is due to the recovery of the inbound tourism market in the United States (10%) and the very good results destinations in Central America and South America favored by the strong euro and the regular tourist flows from the United States.

Europe, the largest destination region in the world with over 50% of all international tourist arrivals, in 2007 recorded a higher than average growth and reached a total of 480 million tourists. Destinations such as Turkey (18%), Greece (12%) and Portugal (10%) or Italy and Switzerland (both 7%) are proof of the positive impact of the persistent recovery of economy of the region in 2007.

In 2008, the number of international tourist arrivals totaled 925 million, which represents 17 million arrivals over 2007 and an increase of 2%. Tourism demand has declined significantly during the year due to the extreme instability of the world economy (financial crisis, increases in raw materials and oil, sharp fluctuations in exchange rates), which resulted in a loss of confidence among consumers and businesses and the global economic downturn we are currently experiencing. The growth in tourism has seen a halt in the second half of 2008, with a slight decline in international tourist arrivals, this trend to continue in 2009.
In 2009 international tourist arrivals worldwide fell 4.3% in 2009 to $ 880 million. "The global economic crisis, to which is added the uncertainty of the influenza A (H1N1), made ​​2009 one of the most difficult years the tourism sector," said the Secretary-General UNWTO, Taleb Rifai. Europe has struggled. Tourist arrivals fell there by 6% in 2009, after a particularly difficult first half (- 10%). Destinations in Central & Eastern Europe and North were particularly affected, Western Europe, Southern Mediterranean and with relatively better results. In 2009, one of the European countries most affected by the crisis of global tourism has been Spain, which recorded a 8.9% drop in tourist arrivals (52 million tourists), the largest decline on record in twelve years. The year 2009 would have been even worse for the Spanish tourism had he not been rescued by domestic tourism which partially offset the heavy losses of foreign tourists. The American continent was down 5% arrived, but growth resumed in the Caribbean over the last four months of 2009 Asia-Pacific (-2%) were restarted dramatically. While arrivals declined by 7% between January and June 2009, a growth of 3% was observed in the second half, which reflects the improved performance and economic outlook of the region. Africa (5%) had good results, especially sub-Saharan destinations.

Global tourism recovered strongly in 2010 with a 6.7% increase in international tourist arrivals (The details of the UNWTO forecast a growth of 5 to 6%), 935 million (against 920 arrivals 930 million originally planned. International tourism has surpassed its pre-crisis figures (913 million in 2008). Asia was the first region to recover with 204 million arrivals (an increase of 13%). Africa which was the only area in the green in 2008, an increase of 6%. Middle East grew by 14%, the Americas and Europe 8% 3%. tourism has benefited "mega-events". the Shanghai World Expo, the World Cup in South Africa, the winter Olympics in Canada and the Commonwealth Games in India "once again showed that tourism is very resistant "industry (Taleb Rifai, January 2011).

World tourism continued to recover in 2011, with a 4.4% increase in tourist arrivals (980 million tourists), but the pace is expected to slow in 2012 in a sluggish economy according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO). This growth is in the forecast range of WTO, which called for an increase of 4 to 5%. The year 2011 seemed more mixed: while Europe saw a 6% increase with 503 million tourists, much better than in 2010 (3%), Africa has not experienced any growth, 50 million visitors, against 6% in 2010 the increase of two million tourists destinations in sub-Saharan Africa (+7%) was offset by the losses in North Africa (-12%), which had instead of many popular uprisings of the "Arab Spring" in 2011 for the same purpose Middle East region, which has seen its number of visitors melt 8%, 5 million tourists in less, then he jumped 14 % a year earlier. Asia-Pacific, she suffered from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March: growth of 6% is two times lower than in 2010 (13%). Finally, the Americas also stalled, with only 4% more tourists, two times less than in 2010 (8%).

In 2012, while we expect the general economic downturn, tourism growth is expected to continue at a somewhat slower pace of 3 to 4%, according to forecasts by the World Tourism Organization If this range is reached, international tourist arrivals are likely to cross the billion mark sometime in 2012.

And tomorrow?

"What the future holds Who would have predicted, there fifty years, any tourist posterity to inaccessible gorges or ice climbing. Our descendants will spend their days in the trees. They attend assiduously swamps? With they wander in the mangroves? they totally forsake their environment to come together in artificial bubbles. will they go on other planets or they seek to enjoy weightlessness in any resort floating in space? will practice -they "virtual tourism" (Dewailly, 1997). Will Buy-tourist souvenirs that they will place in their brains, as Doug Quaid, the hero of sci-fi "Total Recall" by Paul Verhoeven? no doubt tourism practices are not static and will evolve significantly, which will result in changing the location of tourism "(STOCK M. (Coordination), 2003.- Tourism. Actors, places and issues, Paris Belin edict., coll. Belin sup. Geography, Licence- IUT, 304 p., P.107

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