The number
of international tourists rose by 4.7 percent to reach a record of 1.14 billion
last year, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said in Madrid.
Deutsche Welle, 28 Jan 2015
Tourism is
growing faster than other economic sectors. The industry's increase has been
above the average economic growth for five years in a row. A further growth of
up to 4 percent is expected this year.
"Over
the past years, tourism has proven to be a surprisingly strong and resilient
economic activity," said Taled Rifai, the World Tourism Organization's
secretary general. "It is a fundamental contributor to the economic
recovery by generating billions of dollars in exports and creating millions of
jobs."
According
to the UNWTO, the number of international tourists particularly increased in
North and South America, rising by 7 percent. Asia and the Pacific registered a
growth of 5 percent. Receiving 588 million tourists in 2014, Europe
consolidated its position as the most visited region in the world.
Germany had
a beyond average performance as a holiday destination.
"Inbound
tourism continues to develop so dynamically that, according to the available
numbers, we have reached for the fifth year in a row a new record in
2014," said Petra Hedorfer of the German tourism marketing organization
Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus. "Growth in Germany's inbound tourism is
stronger than the average calculated by the UNWTO for Europe, which is 3.9
percent."
UNWTO
statistics included all tourists who spend at least one night in a foreign country.
at / ak (dpa, DZT)
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