ABUJA – The World Tourism Barometer says the demand for international tourism has remained strong in the first quarter of 2014. This is contained in the July edition of United Nation World Tourism (UNWTO) Journal, issued to newsmen in Abuja on Monday. The journal stated that international tourist arrivals worldwide grew by 5 per cent in the same rate as in 2013. “Prospects for the current peak tourism season remained very positive with more than 460 million tourists expected to travel abroad between May and August 2014 period.’’ The report stated that destinations worldwide received 317 million international tourists (overnight visitors) between January and April 2014. It stated that the figure was 14 million more than what was received in 2013. “This 5 per cent growth consolidates the already strong increase registered in 2013, and is well above the long-term trend projected by UNWTO for the period of 2010-2020.’’
[eap_ad_1] It stated that the growth of the sector had been widely spread with nearly all sub-regions recording increases in international arrivals of 4 per cent or higher. According to the report, by region, the strongest growth has been registered in Asia and the Pacific and the Americas at 6 per cent, followed closely by Europe and Africa both at 5 per cent. “For sub-region, Northern Europe, Southern and Mediterranean Europe, North Africa and South Asia all stood at 8 per cent.’’ “This is an encouraging start for 2014 and the overall positive sentiment in the sector raise high expectations for the current peak tourism season, benefiting destinations from both advanced and emerging economies. “The 5 per cent growth in the number of international tourists crossing borders in the first quarter of 2014 further reflects the impact of the increase in public support to the sector. “It also has the immense capacity of tourism companies to adapt to changing markets.’’ (NAN)
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