30 January 2007 'Record year' for world tourism in 2006
Tourism statistics from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer have revealed that 2006 was a record year in world tourism.
UNWTO reveals that the year saw 842 million arrivals, with a growth rate of 4.5 per cent, with predictions that this performance will be consolidated over the next 12 months.
Growth in Africa was almost twice the global rate, with above average growth in Asia and the pacific, while tourist numbers in Europe and the Middle East rose four per cent.
Francesco Frangialli, UNWTO secretary general, said: "Despite downside risks facing global tourism twelve months ago - in particular terrorism, health scares due to avian flue and rising oil prices - 2006 was another year of good growth above the long-term forecast rate of 4.1 per cent."
He added that this growth had been supported by one of the longest continued periods of economic expansion.
UNWTO acts as a global forum for tourism policy and source of tourism research on behalf of the United Nations.
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