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| Hospitality Today | June / July 2016
The hospitality & tourism market
International tourism rose by 4 % last year
International tourism receipts in destinations around the world grew by 3.6 % in 2015, in line with the 4.4 % increase in international arrivals. For the fourth consecutive year, international tourism grew faster than world merchandise trade, raising tourism’ s share in world’ s exports to 7 % in 2015. The total export value from international tourism amounted to US $ 1.4 trillion.
Income generated by international visitors on accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, shopping and other services and goods reached an estimated US $ 1,232 billion( euro 1,110 billion) in 2015, an increase of 3.6 %. International tourist arrivals( overnight visitors) increased by 4.4 % in 2015 to 1,184 million.
China, the United States and the United Kingdom led outbound tourism last year, fuelled by their strong currencies and economies. China continues to lead global outbound travel after double-digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004. Spending by Chinese travellers increased 25 % in 2015 to reach US $ 292 billion, as total outbound travellers rose 10 % to 128 million.
Tourism expenditure from the world’ s second largest source market, the United States, increased by 9 % in 2015 to US $ 120 billion, while the number of outbound travellers grew by 8 % to 73 million.
Other latest figures out from the Office for National Statistics show that the first three months of 2016 have set a record for inbound visits to the UK. The figures show visits from January to March were up 6 % on the same period last year to 7.36 million, with visitors spending £ 3.64 billion.
Inbound tourism is worth more £ 26 billion to the UK economy.