World tourism returns to pre-crisis levels—UN

Published by rudy Date posted on November 13, 2010

MADRID—World tourism has returned to levels last seen before the global financial meltdown in late 2008, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the way, the UN World Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

“As on previous occasions, such as after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the 2003 SARS outbreak, tourism has again confirmed a strong capacity for recovery,” the Madrid-based body said.

Tourist arrivals from January to August totalled 642 million, some 40 million more than during the same period in 2009 and one million more than in the last “pre-crisis” year of 2008, which saw record numbers, it said in a report.

“International tourism continues to recover from the decline of 4.2 percent suffered last year under the impact of the economic crisis,” it said.

It projected an increase of 5.0-6.0 percent over the full year and of around 4.0 percent in 2011.

Emerging country destinations continued to lead the way while Europe recovered at a slower pace, the UNWTO said.

“Although recovery is still lagging in parts of Europe and the Americas, many destinations are already showing real growth and setting new records.”

It said the Asia-Pacific region in particular has “shown resilience and a strong capacity for recovery.

“The region was caught quite early and suddenly by the economic crisis but was also the first to show signs of recovery, posting an impressive 14 percent growth in international arrivals through August 2010.”

It has gained an extra 10 million international tourist arrivals compared to the pre-crisis year of 2008, with most destinations registering double-digit growth rates and many even more than 20 percent.

The organization also noted strong growth in the Middle East, up 16 percent, and in Africa, up 9.0 percent, helped by the soccer World Cup hosted by South Africa.

“These results reinforce the message that we have been underscoring since the outbreak of the global crisis at the end of 2008 – that tourism is one of the most dynamic economic sectors and a key driver in creating much needed growth and employment,” UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said.

“Tourism has been seriously impacted by the global crisis but less than other export sectors and is currently rebounding faster and more robustly.”

He also appealed to governments to resist the temptation to halt tax increases on travel, particularly on air transport.

“These impediments seriously affect our capacity to generate jobs and stimulate economic growth, namely through export earnings that are crucial to a stable economic recovery.” –Agence France-Presse

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.