Worldwide, international tourism fell 8% in the first four months of this year, compared to the same period in 2008, to 247m arrivals. But the rate of decline is expected to ease during the remainder of 2009.
According to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, current market conditions mean that international tourism is now forecast to decrease by between 4% and 6% in 2009.
However, the level of advance bookings, coupled with the reduction in airline capacity, make recovery before 2010 difficult. There is additional uncertainty regarding the future of the swine flu outbreak.
All regions except Africa recorded a decrease in arrivals for the first four months of 2009. The positive results in Africa (+3%) reflect the strength of North African destinations around the Mediterranean and the recovery of Kenya as one of leading Sub-Saharan destinations.
The Americas fell 5% have because of the slowdown of the US both as a source market and a destination.
Although the decline in the Middle East is significant (-18%), complete figures are not available and arrivals are expected to be well above 2007 levels.
Elsewhere, case studies at the Tourism Society 2009 Annual Conference demonstrated how the trade has the potential to boost the UK economy.
The new VisitEngland chair, Penelope Lady Cobham, said 87% of the people who took an English break or holiday last year said they plan to do so again this year.
Meanwhile Deborah Evans, senior tourism development manager at the London Development Agency, revealed that a three-month New Year campaign to market London to Europe had cost £600,000 but generated a proven £11m economic impact.
See also:
Liverpool lifts domestic stays by 28% (29/06/2009)
Leaders count cost of swine flu (20/05/2009)
G20 deals could ‘soften tourism decline’ (01/04/2009)
WTTC forecasts difficult two years for tourism (13/03/2009)
Mayor adds £750k to London tourism budget (28/11/2008)