International Tourism Highlights 2019 Edition International Tourism Continues to Outpace the Global Economy
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International Tourism Highlights 2019 Edition International tourism continues to outpace the global economy Driven by a relatively strong global economy, a growing middle class in emerging economies, technological advances, new business models, affordable travel 1.4 billion costs and visa facilitation, international tourist arrivals +5% grew 5% in 2018 to reach the 1.4 billion mark. This Total international tourist arrivals figure was reached two years ahead of UNWTO forecast. At the same time, export earnings generated by tourism have grown to USD 1.7 trillion. This makes USD 1.7 trillion the sector a true global force for economic growth +4% Total international tourism exports and development, driving the creation of more and better jobs and serving as catalyst for (International tourism receipts + passenger transport) innovation and entrepreneurship. In short, tourism is helping build better lives for millions of individuals and transforming whole communities. Revenues from visitor spending have grown faster Growth in international tourist arrivals and receipts continues to outpace the world economy than the world economy and both emerging and advanced economies are benefiting from rising tourism income. 6 For the seventh year in a row, tourism exports grew faster than merchandise exports, 5.2 reducing trade deficits in many countries. 4.4 4 3.8 3.6 With such growth comes more responsibility in ensuring effective destination management that minimizes any adverse effect of tourism. Managing tourism in a sustainable manner for 2 the benefit of all is more critical than ever. We need to grow more in value rather than just in 2009 volume. Digitalization, innovation, greater accessibility and societal changes are expected 0 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 to continue shaping our sector. Both destinations and companies will need to adapt to (% change) remain competitive, while at the same time embracing tourism as a means of achieving the -2 ■ Receipts (% change, real terms) Sustainable Development Goals and building a better future for all. -4 ■ GDP (% change, real terms) Zurab Pololikashvili -6 Secretary-General World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International tourism receipts and world GDP (% change) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), July 2019. 2 2018 – 9th consecutive year of sustained growth Tourism has seen continued expansion over time, despite occasional shocks, demonstrating the sector’s strength and resilience Americas Europe Asia and the Pacific 8 7.0 216 million +2% 710 million +5% 348 million +7% 6 5.2 5.4 USD 334 billion +0% USD 570 billion +5% USD 435 billion +7% 4.4 4 2 2009 0 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 -2 ■ Arrivals (% change) -4 ■ Receipts (% change, real terms) -6 International tourist arrivals and tourism receipts (% change) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), July 2019. 1,600 1,451 1,400 1,200 1,401 1,000 800 Africa Middle East 600 ■ Arrivals (million) 67 million +7% 60 million +5% 400 ■ Receipts (USD billion) USD 38 billion +2% USD 73 billion +4% 200 0 ‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 International tourist arrivals (million) and tourism receipts (USD billion) Map of international tourist arrivals (million) and tourism receipts (USD billion) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), July 2019. Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), July 2019. 3 The Big Picture Strong economy drives tourism growth Favourable economic environment Enhanced visa facilitation • 2018 World GDP = +3.6%. • eVisas and visas on arrival on the rise while traditional visas are decreasing. • Exchange rate movements generally moderate. • The share of world population requiring a traditional visa declined from 75% in 1980 to 53% in 2018. • Low interest rates. • However, half of the world population still needed a traditional visa in 2018. Strong demand for air travel 80 • +6% in international passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) 70 according to IATA. 60 • Stable fuel prices and lower fares (fares at -60% vs 1998). 53 Traditional visa • Over the past two decades, the number of unique city pairs connected by air transport 50 has more than doubled, reaching more than 20,000 at ever lower costs. 40 (% share) Digital technologies are shaping traveller’s experience 30 21 No visa required • Artificial Intelligence is transforming tourism, from virtual assistants to companies 20 16 Visa on arrival being able to offer hyper-personalized customer experiences and improve business performance. 10 10 eVisa • An increasing number of destinations are measuring tourism in real time for a better 0 management of visitor flows. 1980 2018 World population affected by visas, 1980 versus 2018 (% share) Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Air Transport Association (IATA). Source: UNWTO Visa Facilitation Report, 2018. 4 The Big Picture Societal changes Sustainability and competitiveness go hand in hand as destinations and businesses can become more competitive through the efficient use of resources, the promotion of biodiversity conservation and actions to tackle climate change. Sustainability, a key part of tourism policies in 101 UNWTO Member States Consumer travel trends surveyed • Travel ‘to change’ Live like a local, quest for authenticity and transformation. refer to sustainability 100 % as an objective • Travel ‘to show’ ‘Instagramable’ moments, experiences and destinations. refer to resource • Pursuit of a healthy life efficiency 67% Walking, wellness and sports tourism. connect sustainability and • Rise of the ‘access’ economy. 64 % competitiveness • Solo travel & multigenerational travel refer to as a result of aging population and single households. sustainability extensively 55% • Rising awareness on sustainability zero plastic and climate change. average duration 10 years of tourism policies Source: UNWTO Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns into Tourism Policies, 2019. 5 Regional Tourism Results Asia and the Pacific led growth in both arrivals and receipts Asia and the Pacific, recorded the highest growth in arrivals, Europe accounts for half of the world’s international arrivals, closely followed by Africa followed by Asia and the Pacific with 1 in 4 arrivals (million) Middle East 4% 900 Europe +5% Africa 5% 800 700 Americas 15% 600 Europe 51% 500 Asia and the Pacific +7% 400 Arrivals 300 Americas +2% 200 Asia and the Pacific25 % Middle East +5% Africa +7% 100 0 2 4 6 8 10 (% change) International tourist arrivals by regions, 2018 International tourist arrivals, 2018 (% share) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Bubble size equivalent to number of international tourist arrivals. Asia and the Pacific and Europe enjoyed above-average growth Europe represents almost 40% of international tourism receipts, in tourism earnings followed by Asia and the Pacific with almost one third +7% Africa 3% 7 Middle East 5% 6 +5% 5 +4% +4% Americas 23% Europe 39% 4 3 (% change) Receipts +2% 2 1 Asia and the Pacific30 % +0% 0 Asia Europe World Middle East Africa Americas and the Pacific International tourism receipts by regions, 2018 (% change) International tourism receipts, 2018 (% share) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 6 Means and Purpose of Travel Travelling for leisure and by air dominates international tourism • Leisure travel is the main purpose of visit in all world regions except the • The share of air travel has increased from 46% in 2000 to 58% in 2018, Middle East, where visiting friends and relatives (VFR), or for health or religious while land transport has decreased from 49% to 39% in the same period. purposes predominates. • The share of leisure travel has grown from 50% in 2000 to 56% in 2018. Not specified4 % Water 4% Train 2% Business and professional 13% Leisure, Purpose recreation, Mode of holidays 56% of visit transport VFR, health, religion, other 27% Air 58% Road 37% Purpose of visit, 2018 (% share) Mode of transport, 2018 (% share) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 7 International tourism exports Tourism grows faster than merchandise trade • 2018 saw an extra USD 121 billion in export revenues from international tourism (travel Tourism is the world’s third largest export category after chemicals and passenger transport) compared to 2017. and fuels, and ahead of automotive products and food (2017) • Export earnings from international tourism are an important source of foreign revenues Chemicals 1,993 for many destinations in the world. • Tourism is an important component of export diversification both for emerging and Fuels 1,960 advanced economies, with a strong capacity to reduce trade deficits and to compensate International tourism 1,586 for weaker export revenues from other goods and services. Automotive products 1,470 Tourism generates USD 5 billion a day in exports Food 1,466 USD 1.5 Export earnings by product category, 2017 (USD billion) Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Trade Organization (WTO). trillion Note: Ranking of export categories for 2018 will be available in late 2019. receipts in destinations USD 1.7 For the seventh year in a row, total export revenues from international trillion tourism grew faster than merchandise exports + = exports from international tourism 15 USD 256 in 2018 10 billion 6 passenger transport 5 5 4