COMCEC Tourism Outlook-2016
10
Table 3.2 International Tourism Arrivals by Region (Millions)
Tourist
Arrivals
2000 2010 2013 2014 2015 Share
(%)
World 674 949 1.087 1.134 1.186 100
Europe 386.4 488.7 566.6 580.2 607.6 51.2
Asia&Pacific 110.3 205.4 249.8 264.3 279.2 23.5
Americas 128.2 150.1 168.0 181.9 192.6 16.2
Africa 26.2 49.7 54.8 55.3 53.5 4.5
Middle East 22.4 54.8 48.2 52.4 53.3 4.5
Source: World Tourism Organization, Tourism Highlights 2016
According to the Table 3.2, Europe (+4.7%), Asia and the Pacific (+5.6%),
the Americas (+5.9%), Middle East (+1.7) showed continued growth in 2015 except Africa (-
3.3%).
In 2015, Europe (+5%) led growth in absolute and relative terms supported by a weaker euro
vis-à-vis the US dollar and other main currencies. Arrivals reached 608 million, or 28 million
more than in 2014. Asia and the Pacific (+6%) recorded 15 million more international tourist
arrivals last year to reach 279 million. International tourist arrivals in the Americas (+6%) grew
10 million to reach 193 million, consolidating the strong results of 2014. The appreciation of the
US dollar stimulated outbound travel from the United States. International tourist arrivals in the
Middle East grew by an estimated 5% to a total of 53 million, consolidating the recovery initiated
in 2014. Limited data available for Africa points to an estimated 3% decrease in the number of
international tourists.
Both subregions, North Africa (-8%) and Subsaharan Africa (-1%), recorded lower inbound
figures as geopolitical factors continue to impact major destinations. The recent security
problems have weighed down on tourist demand in the region, as have health concerns in the
aftermath of the Ebola outbreak in a few West African destinations. Slower economic growth in
countries depending on oil and commodity exports has also weakened intraregional demand.
To analyze the tourism trends in these regions, it would be beneficial to compare the results of
the last decade. The figure below compares the shares of tourist arrivals by regions for the years
2000 and 2015.
Figure 3.4 Tourist Arrivals by Region (2000-2015)
Source: UNWTO, 2016
Africa
4% America
s
19%
Asia/
Pacific
16%
Europe
57%
Middle
East
4%
2000
Africa
5%
America
s
16%
Asia/
Pacific
24%
Europe
51%
Middle
East
5 %
2015