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COMCEC Tourism Outlook-2018
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Table 0.2 Member Countries by Major Surplus/Deficits on the Travel Balance in 2013-2016
(US$ billion)
Source: UNWTO, 2017 Tourism Barometer Volume14, June 2017.
According to the Table 4.2, Turkey ranked as 6
th
, Malaysia as 14
th
, Morocco as 19
th
and Indonesia
as 22
nd
country by major surplus on the travel balance in international tourismmarket. In 2016,
for example Turkey’s tourism receipts from foreigners were US$ 18.1 billion, however Turkish
citizens spent around US$ 5 billion in other countries. This means that US$ 14.2 billion stayed in
the country as a surplus on the travel balance. This surplus is very important for countries as a
source of foreign exchange in their economies. It can be realized from the Table 4.2 that some
countries have a tendency to spend more than their tourism receipts. It is obvious that the
majority of these countries are the main OIC international tourism destinations and earners. It
is also observed that the balance of international tourism of some member countries accounts
for a high percentage of their international tourism receipts. For example, countries like Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar have deficits on travel balance.
Safety and security concerns and political stability are emerging as major challenges for OIC
member states, and it is assumed that these issues will continue to cause difficulties in the years
ahead. Governments should work hard to ensure the safety of tourists and to minimize the
impact of security threats. Terrorist incidents, refugee crises are still important obstacles for
tourism in the region. The strength of the US dollar relative to other currencies is shifting the
price competitiveness among destinations and will affect market share and rankings of OIC
destinations.
Tourism Receipts
Tour. Expenditures
Balance
2014
2015
2016
2014
2015
2016
2014
2015
2016
Turkey
29.6
26.6
19
5.1
5.4
4,8
24.5
21.2
14.2
Malaysia
22.6
17.6
18.1
12.4
10.5
10.5
10.2
7.1
7.6
Morocco
7.1
6.0
6.5
1.4
1.4
1.5
5.6
4.6
5
Indonesia
10.3
10.7
11.3
7.7
7.3
7.7
2.6
3.4
3.6
Egypt
7.2
6.1
2.6
3.1
3.4
-
4.1
1.7
-
Kuwait
0.4
0.1
0.2
11.3
12.4
12.3
-10.9
-12.3
-12.1
S. Arabia
8.2
10.1
12.1
24.1
20.7
16.7
-15.9
-10,6
-4.6
UAE
14.0
16.0
19.4
14.4
15.1
17.1
-0.4
0.9
2.3
Qatar
4.6
5.0
5.4
8.7
8.2
9.6
-4.1
-3.2
-4.2