International tourism grew by 4.4 percent to 980
million arrivals in 2011, despite economic stagnation in the wake of
the global crisis, the United Nations' World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) said Monday.
The best results were posted by South America, where tourism
increased by 10 percent, according to preliminary figures given by
UNWTO at its Madrid headquarters.
Europe, Asia and the Pacific saw growth of 6 percent. But in
North Africa and the Middle East, tourism declined by 12 and 8 percent respectively.
"International tourism hit new records in 2011 despite the
challenging conditions," UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said.
Europe registered 503 million arrivals in 2011, with Central,
Eastern and Mediterranean Europe leading with growth of 8 percent.
Asia and the Pacific reached 216 million arrivals, with South and
South-East Asia leading with growth of 9 percent.
The Americas posted 4 percent growth to 156 million arrivals,
with a 10 percent increase in South America, 4 percent in Central
America and the Caribbean, and 3 percent in North America.
Africa received 50 million tourists. Tourism to sub-Saharan Africa
increased 7 percent, in contrast to the north of the continent,
where tourism suffered from the political unrest sweeping Arab
countries.
