higher and higher. Last year, the world tourism Organization (UNWTO) has recognised $ 1.4 billion international tourists, 6% more than in 2017. Never such a level had not been reached. And only the year 2010 had already seen an increase also important. Even the WTO did not expect such performance. Its experts had forecast $ 1.4 billion international tourists (passing at least one night on the spot)… but not before 2020. The development of tourism in the world is impressive: the bar of the 500 million had been taken in 1995, one billion in 2012.
The rise of low-cost air companies, the opening of new air routes, and the acceleration of the issuance of visas to explain a good part of the phenomenon. Not to mention a middle class of growing -particularly in China-which has a desire to travel outside its borders.
last year, the growth of travel in the world has been driven by the Middle East (+10%) and Africa (+7%). All regions of the world are progressing: +6% for the Asia-Pacific; +3% for the United States. Even Europe, which concentrates more than half of the arrivals, shows 6% growth.
France, first world tourist destination, benefit from it. The government speaks of almost 90 million foreign visitors come in 2018. It has never been seen, and this in spite of the protests of the “yellow vests”, which hamper the arrivals since November.
Better direct the flow of travellers
“The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is now one of the engines of economic growth and development, the most powerful”, welcomes Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the UNWTO.
Overall, the tourism (transport, hotels, restaurants, shopping…), which contributes more than 10% of the global GDP.
Its momentum grows today governments and health professionals to mobilise in order to better direct the flow of travellers.
today, in fact, 95 % of global travellers visit the same places, on less than 5 % of the planet. Result? The massive influx of tourists on a few sites, that are flooding.
In Barcelona for example, the population rises up against the too-full-of visitors in the city. In Asia, some of the beaches degraded by bathers too many are closed part of the year; others establish a right-of-way fee. From this summer, the Venetian authorities are planning to introduce a new tax (in the amount of 2,50 to 10 euros per visitor), in order to limit the mass tourism that the asphyxiation.
