International tourism up four per cent in first half of 2019, World Tourism Organization reports

International tourist arrivals grew four per cent from January to June 2019, compared to the same period last year, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer published ahead of the 23rd World Tourism Organization General Assembly. Growth was led by the Middle East (+8 per cent) and Asia and the Pacific (+6 per cent).

International arrivals in Europe grew four per cent, while Africa (+3 per cent) and the Americas (+2 per cent) enjoyed more ­moderate growth.

Destinations worldwide received 671 million international tourist arrivals between January and June 2019, almost 30 million more than in the same period of 2018 and a continuation of the growth recorded last year.

Growth in arrivals is returning to its historic trend and is in line with UNWTO’s forecast of three to four per cent growth in international tourist arrivals for the full year 2019, as reported in the January Barometer.

So far, the drivers of these results have been a strong economy, affordable air travel, increased air connectivity and enhanced visa facilitation. However, weaker economic ­indicators, prolonged uncertainty about Brexit, trade and technological tensions and rising geopolitical challenges have started to take a toll on business and consumer confidence, as reflected in a more cautious UNWTO Confidence Index.

Regional Performance

Europe grew four per cent in the first six months of 2019, with a positive first quarter followed by an above-average second quarter (April: +8 per cent and June: +6 per cent), reflecting a busy Easter and the start of the summer season in the world’s most visited region. Intraregional demand furled much of this growth, though performance among major European source markets was uneven, amid weakening economies. Demand from overseas markets such as the USA, China, Japan and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also contributed to these positive results.

In the Americas (+2 per cent), results ­improved in the second quarter after a weak start of the year. The Caribbean (+11%) benefited from strong US ­demand and continued to rebound strongly from the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria in late 2017, a challenge which the region unfortunately faces once again. North America recorded 2% growth, while Central America (+1%) showed mixed results. In South America, arrivals were down 5 per cent, partly due to a decline in outbound travel from Argentina which affected neighbouring destinations.

Source Markets – mixed results amid trade tensions and economic uncertainty

Performance has been uneven across major tourism outbound markets.

Chinese outbound tourism (+14 per cent) in trips abroad) continued to drive arrivals in many destinations in the region during the first half of the year, though spending on international travel was four per cent lower in real terms in the first quarter. Trade tensions with the USA as well as the slight depreciation of the yuan may influence destination choice by Chinese travellers in the short term.

Outbound travel from the USA, the world’s second-largest spender, remained solid (+7 per cent), supported by a strong dollar. In Europe, spending on international tourism by France (+8 per cent) and Italy (+7 per cent) was robust, though the United Kingdom (+3 per cent) and Germany (+2 per cent) reported more moderate figures.