Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 1.2 International Tourist Arrivals: 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980, 1990,
1995-2010
Year
Arrivals (millions)
Percent of Growth
1950
25
—
1960
69
176
1970
166
141
1980
288
73
1990
456
58
1995
528
16
1996
561
6
1997
586
4
1998
602
3
1999
626
4
2000
675
8
2001
675
0
2002
695
3
2003
684
1
2004
755
10
2005
795
5
2006
839
6
2007
894
6
2008
913
2
2009
877
4
935
a
2010
7
a
Estimated
Source: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
tourism (and other sectors) were hit hard by the credit and housing market collapses experienced in
many countries, as households cut back on leisure travel and corporations cut travel expenditures.
However, UNWTO states that tourism is the world
is largest growth industry with long-term signs
being very positive. Their study, Tourism 2020 Vision, forecasts that international arrivals will exceed
1 billion by 2010 and 1.6 billion by 2020. Whether the projections are made by UNWTO or WTTC,
growth appears to be in the future forecasts.
UNWTO
'
s 2003 estimate of 684 million tourist arrivals was a result of an exceptionally dif
cult
year in which negative factors came together (the Iraq war, terrorism fears, the severe acute
respiratory syndrome [SARS], and a persistently weak world economy), causing a 1.3 percent decline
in arrivals compared to 2002.
Thus, this growth of tourism has been irregular this past decade. Rapid growth, medium growth,
and even declines have marked tourism's performance the last decade. Long term, it is believed that
underlying factors will keep travel on a growth pattern. Travel is resilient and history has shown us that
travel bounces back from problems and crises. However, travel will always be vulnerable to economic
downturns, terrorism, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic ash, and oil concerns.
Preliminary arrival data from UNWTO for 2010 shows international tourism arrivals recovered
strongly in 2010. Worldwide, the number of international tourist arrivals reached 935 million, up
58 million, almost 7 percent from 2009. Following the year of global recovery in 2010, tourism
is expected to grow in 2011 at a 4 to 5 percent rate, slightly above the long-term average.
'
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