UNWTO and Oxford Economics Report Tourism Increased in 2007

January 22, 2008

UNWTO and Oxford Economics Report Tourism Increased in 2007
Jan. 22, 2008 – The World Travel & Tourism Council and Oxford Economics are reporting that international tourism arrivals increased in 2007 by nearly six percent, totaling nearly 900 million tourists. This marks the fourth successive year that arrivals’ growth has exceeded its long-standing trend of four percent according to the UNWTO.

Research just released by UNWTO and Oxford Economics indicate that tourism spending and international air passenger traffic also rose from year to year in November.

WTTC President Jean-Claude Baumgarten stated "tourism growth has been particularly rapid in developing countries with the fastest average growth in tourism arrivals in the Middle East region. These countries are not only recognizing the development potential of Travel & Tourism and therefore investing heavily in new infrastructure and facilities but their citizens are also seeing rapid economic growth boost their incomes beyond the level where international travel becomes both a feasible and desired option."

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