COMCEC Tourism Outlook-2018
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countries expressed in current US dollars. As the US dollar appreciated against other currencies
in 2016, actual earnings in local currencies converted to US$ were in many cases lower than in
2016. In absolute terms, tourism receipts in OIC member states increased by US$ 7 billion.
Generally, a certain destination becomes more price-competitive when its currency depreciates
relative to the currencies of its source markets. Similarly, it becomes less affordable, when its
currency appreciates against the currencies of its visitors. An appreciating currency increases
the purchasing power of a country’s travelers abroad, but makes the destinationmore expensive
for international generating markets against whose currencies it has appreciated.
It can be useful to analyze the trends by grouping the OIC member countries as OIC-MENA, OIC-
Asia, and OIC-Sub-Saharan Africa, which are provided at Figure 4.4. As displayed in the figure
OIC-MENA has the biggest share among tourist arrivals in the member states. In this region, the
number of tourist arrivals increased from 116 million to 117 million in 2016 according to
available data.
Figure 0.4 Tourist Arrivals in the OIC Sub-Regions (Millions)
Source: UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2006, 2009 and 2017 Editions.
Figure 4.4 shows that OIC-Asia has experienced continued growth in tourist arrivals for the
period 2004-2016. In 2016, 51 million tourists travelled to OIC-Asia region. The OIC- Sub
Saharan Africa constitutes the smallest portion of the international OIC Tourism but this region
experienced a strong growth in 2016. Similar analysis can be made for tourism receipts in these
groups. Figure 4.5 shows that tourism receipts in OIC-MENA is greater than the other two
regions.
28 27 30
36 39 39 42 46 47 48 51 50 51
61
68 62
71
82 85
102 104 108 104
119 116 117
4 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 8 7 8 7 10
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
OIC-ASIA
OIC MENA
OIC SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA