InternationalTourismHighlights2019Edition${protocol}://:01:13AM-IPAddress:175.16.58.13020092008201020112012201320142015201620172018Internationaltourismcontinuestooutpacetheglobaleconomy2Drivenbyarelativelystrongglobaleconomy,agrowingmiddleclassinemergingeconomies,technologicaladvances,newbusinessmodels,affordabletravelcostsandvisafacilitation,internationaltouristarrivalsgrew5%in2018toreachthe1.4billionmark.ThisfigurewasreachedtwoyearsaheadofUNWTOforecast.Atthesametime,exportearningsgeneratedbytourismhavegrowntoUSD1.7trillion.Thismakesthesectoratrueglobalforceforeconomicgrowthanddevelopment,drivingthecreationofmoreandbetterjobsandservingascatalystforinnovationandentrepreneurship.Inshort,tourismishelpingbuildbetterlivesformillionsofindividualsandtransformingwholecommunities.Growthininternationaltouristarrivalsandreceiptscontinuestooutpacetheworldeconomyandbothemergingandadvancedeconomiesarebenefitingfromrisingtourismincome.Fortheseventhyearinarow,tourismexportsgrewfasterthanmerchandiseexports,reducingtradedeficitsinmanycountries.Withsuchgrowthcomesmoreresponsibilityinensuringeffectivedestinationmanagementthatminimizesanyadverseeffectoftourism.Managingtourisminasustainablemannerforthebenefitofallismorecriticalthanever.Weneedtogrowmoreinvalueratherthanjustinvolume.Digitalization,innovation,greateraccessibilityandsocietalchangesareexpectedtocontinueshapingoursector.Bothdestinationsandcompanieswillneedtoadapttoremaincompetitive,whileatthesametimeembracingtourismasameansofachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandbuildingabetterfutureforall.ZurabPololikashviliSecretary-GeneralWorldTourismOrganization(UNWTO)1.4billionTotalinternationaltouristarrivals+5%+4%USD1.7trillionTotalinternationaltourismexports(Internationaltourismreceipts+passengertransport)Revenuesfromvisitorspendinghavegrownfasterthantheworldeconomy5.26420-2-4-63.84.43.6■ Receipts(%change,realterms)■ GDP(%change,realterms)InternationaltourismreceiptsandworldGDP(%change)Source:WorldTourismOrganization(UNWTO)andInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF),July2019.(%change)${protocol}://:01:13AM-IPAddress:175.16.58.1302018–9thconsecutiveyearofsustainedgrowth3AsiaandthePacific348million+7%USD435billion+7%Europe710million+5%USD570billion+5%Americas216million+2%USD334billion+0%MiddleEast60million+5%USD73billion+4%Africa67million+7%USD38billion+2%Tourismhasseencontinuedexpansionovertime,despiteoccasionalshocks,demonstratingthesector’sstrengthandresilienceInternationaltouristarrivals(million)andtourismreceipts(USDbillion)Source:WorldTourismOrganization(UNWTO),July2019.7.05.25.44.4■ Arrivals(%change)■ Receipts(%change,realterms)Internationaltouristarrivalsandtourismreceipts(%change)Source:WorldTourismOrganization(UNWTO),July2019.2009200820102011201220132014201520162017201886420-2-4-6‘95‘96‘97‘98‘99‘00‘01‘02‘03‘04‘05‘06‘07‘08‘09‘10‘11‘12‘13‘14‘15‘16‘17‘181,6001,4001,2001,0008006004002000■ Arrivals(million)■ Receipts(USDbillion)1,4511,401Mapofinternationaltouristarrivals(million)andtourismreceipts(USDbillion)Source:WorldTourismOrganization(UNWTO),July2019.${protocol}://:01:13AM-IPAddress:175.16.58.130TheBigPictureStrongeconomydrivestourismgrowth44Favourableeconomicenvironment•2018WorldGDP=+3.6%.•Exchangeratemovementsgenerallymoderate.•Lowinterestrates.Strongdemandforairtravel•+6%ininternationalpassengertrafficmeasuredinrevenuepassengerkilometres(RPKs)accordingtoIATA.•Stablefuelpricesandlowerfares(faresat-60%vs1998).•Overthepasttwodecades,thenumberofuniquecitypairsconnectedbyairtransporthasmorethandoubled,reachingmorethan20,000ateverlowercosts.Digitaltechnologiesareshapingtraveller’sexperience•ArtificialIntelligenceistransformingtourism,fromvirtualassistantstocompaniesbeingabletoofferhyper-personalizedcustomerexperiencesandimprovebusinessperformance.•Anincreasingnumberofdestinationsaremeasuringtourisminrealtimeforabettermanagementofvisitorflows.Enhancedvisafacilitation•eVisasandvisasonarrivalontherisewhiletraditionalvisasaredecreasing.•Theshareofworldpopulationrequiringatraditionalvisadeclinedfrom75%in1980to53%in2018.•However,halfoftheworldpopulationstillneededatraditionalvisain2018.Source:InternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)andInternationalAirTransportAssociation(IATA).Worldpopulationaffectedbyvisas,1980versus2018(%share)Source:UNWTOVisaFacilitationReport,2018.5321161019802018TraditionalvisaNovisarequiredVisaonarrivaleVisa80706050403020100(%share)${protocol}://:01:13AM-IPAddress:175.16.58.130TheBigPictureSocietalchanges55Sustainabilityandcompetitivenessgohandinhandasdestinationsandbusinessescanbecomemorecompetitivethroughtheefficientuseofresources,thepromotionofbiodiversityconservationandactionstotackleclimatechange.Sustainability,akeypartoftourismpoliciesin101UNWTOMemberStatessurveyed100%refertosustainabilityasan