TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 Tourism India January 2019 IA | Page 11

2019 on education, skills and job
creation.”, he added.
UNWTO’s long-term forecast
published in 2010 predicted the
1.4 billion mark of international
tourist arrivals for 2020. Yet stronger
economic growth, more affordable
air travel, technological changes, new
businesses models and greater visa
facilitation around the word have
accelerated growth in recent years.
International tourist arrivals
in Europe reached 713 million in
2018, a notable 6% increase over an
exceptionally strong 2017. Growth was
driven by Southern and Mediterranean
Europe (+7%), Central and Eastern
Europe (+6%) and Western Europe
(+6%). Results in Northern Europe
were flat due to the weakness of
arrivals to the United Kingdom.
Asia and the Pacific (+6%) recorded
343 million international tourist
arrivals in 2018. Arrivals in South-East
Asia grew 7%, followed by North-East
Asia (+6%) and South Asia (+5%).
Oceania showed more moderate
growth at +3%.
The Americas (+3%) welcomed
217 million international arrivals
in 2018, with mixed results across
destinations. Growth was led by North
America (+4%), and followed by
South America (+3%), while Central
America and the Caribbean (both -2%)
reached very mixed results, the latter
reflecting the impact of the September
2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Data from Africa points to a 7%
increase in 2018 (North Africa at
+10% and Sub-Saharan +6%),
reaching an estimated 67 million
arrivals.
The Middle East (+10%) showed
solid results last year consolidating
its 2017 recovery, with international
tourist arrivals reaching 64 million.
Growth expected to return to
historical trends in 2019
Based on current trends, economic
prospects and the UNWTO Confidence
2018 TOTALLED 1.4
BILLION INTERNATIONAL
TOURIST ARRIVALS
(+6%), CONSOLIDATING
2017 STRONG RESULTS
AND PROVING TO BE THE
SECOND STRONGEST
YEAR SINCE 2010
Index, UNWTO forecasts international
arrivals to grow 3% to 4% next year,
more in line with historic growth
trends.
The stability of fuel prices tends to
translate into affordable air travel while
air connectivity continues to improve
in many destinations, facilitating the
diversification of source markets.
Trends also show strong outbound
travel from emerging markets,
especially India and Russia but also
from smaller Asian and Arab source
markets.
At the same time, the global
economic slowdown, the uncertainty
related to the Brexit, as well as
geopolitical and trade tensions may
prompt a “wait and see” attitude
among investors and travellers.
Overall, 2019 is expected to see the
consolidation among consumers of
emerging trends such as the quest for
‘travel to change and to show’, ‘the
pursuit of healthy options’ such as
walking, wellness and sports tourism,
‘multigenerational travel’ as a result
of demographic changes and more
responsible travel.
“Digitalisation, new business
models, more affordable travel
and societal changes are expected
to continue shaping our sector, so
both destination and companies
need to adapt if they want to remain
competitive”, added Pololikashvili.
+6
%
January 2019 Tourism India
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