Tourism
Introduction
Tourism
Tourism is a rapidly growing industry and has far-reaching economic and environmental impact across the world.
Tourism trends
The growth of tourism
In 2010, 940 million people were recorded as arriving in a country from abroad because of tourism. This is worth $919 billion dollars, making tourism one of the world's largest industries. (source: World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
The graph shows the growth in tourism measured by international arrivals.
Tourism is also one of the world's fastest-growing industries. In 2010, the Middle East and Asia had the greatest growth of tourists. Europe still attracts the largest number of tourists - nearly 500 million in 2010.
International tourist arrivals (in millions)
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 261.5 | 304.1 | 385.6 | 439.4 | 485.2 | 461.5 | 476.6 |
| Asia and the Pacific | 55.8 | 82.0 | 110.1 | 153.6 | 184.1 | 180.9 | 203.8 |
| Americas | 92.8 | 109.0 | 128.2 | 133.3 | 147.8 | 140.6 | 149.8 |
| Africa | 14.8 | 18.9 | 26.5 | 35.4 | 44.4 | 46.0 | 49.5 |
| Middle east | 9.6 | 13.7 | 24.1 | 36.3 | 55.2 | 52.9 | 60.3 |
The tourism industry, therefore, is very important to economic growth as well as the environment.
Tourism can help a country's economy and infrastructure. For example, it provides jobs. Some countries such as the Caribbean have tourism as their main source of income.
- Question
Study the tables above.
Describe, in detail, the pattern of international tourist arrivals.
- The tables show that tourism has increased in all areas between 1990 and 2010.
- The largest increase in tourist arrivals is in Europe, which increased from 261.5 million people in 1990 to 476.6 million people in 2010.
- The most popular place to visit in 2010 was Europe, with 476.6 million people.
- The least popular place to visit in 2010 was Africa with 49.5 million people.