Despite concerns about terrorism, economic instability and air travel safety, international tourism continued to expand, rising 4.4 percent last year to reach a record 1.2 billion arrivals, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. That increase represents roughly 50 million additional overnight visitors to international destinations in 2014, marking 2015 as the sixth straight year of above-average growth.
Taleb Rifai, UNWTO secretary-general, said the travel sector’s strong performance contributes to economic growth and job creation across many regions. He called on governments to adopt policies that support sustained tourism growth, including measures to ease travel, invest in workforce development and promote sustainability.
The UNWTO Confidence Index remained positive for 2016, forecasting around 4 percent growth in international tourist arrivals. The strongest gains are expected in Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, where arrivals could rise 4 to 5 percent. Europe is projected to grow between 3.5 and 4.5 percent. Africa and the Middle East are likely to see slower growth—estimated between 2 and 5 percent—with greater uncertainty due to higher volatility in those regions.
Rifai noted that 2015’s results were shaped by exchange rate movements, lower oil prices and a mix of natural and human-made crises across different parts of the world. He emphasized that the current environment underlines the importance of safety and security for tourism, pointing out that the industry’s development depends on collective efforts to ensure safe, secure and seamless travel.
To that end, UNWTO urges governments to integrate tourism authorities into national security planning, structures and procedures. Doing so can reduce the sector’s exposure to threats while enhancing its capacity to support security and facilitation, since secure and efficient travel are mutually reinforcing.