Tourism trends
The growth of tourism
In 2019, 1460 million people arrived in a country from abroad because of tourism. This is worth $1481 billion dollars. Tourism is one of the world's largest industries. (source: World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
The business of providing holidays for people travelling for pleasure. These travellers are called tourists. is a rapidly growing industry and has far-reaching economic and environmental impact across the world.
The graph shows the growth in tourism measured by international arrivals.
Tourism is also one of the world's fastest-growing industries. In 2019, the Middle East had the greatest growth of tourists. Europe still attracts the greatest number of tourists – over 744 million in 2019.
International tourist arrivals (in millions)
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2019 | |
| Europe | 261.5 | 385.6 | 476.6 | 744 |
| Asia and the Pacific | 55.8 | 110.1 | 203.8 | 362 |
| Americas | 92.8 | 128.2 | 149.8 | 219 |
| Africa | 14.8 | 26.5 | 49.5 | 70 |
| Middle east | 9.6 | 24.1 | 60.3 | 65 |
| Europe | |
| 1990 | 261.5 |
| 2000 | 385.6 |
| 2010 | 476.6 |
| 2019 | 744 |
| Asia and the Pacific | |
| 1990 | 55.8 |
| 2000 | 110.1 |
| 2010 | 203.8 |
| 2019 | 362 |
| Americas | |
| 1990 | 92.8 |
| 2000 | 128.2 |
| 2010 | 149.8 |
| 2019 | 219 |
| Africa | |
| 1990 | 14.8 |
| 2000 | 26.5 |
| 2010 | 49.5 |
| 2019 | 70 |
| Middle east | |
| 1990 | 9.6 |
| 2000 | 24.1 |
| 2010 | 60.3 |
| 2019 | 65 |
Total exports from international tourism in 2019 generated US $1.7 trillion. The tourism The type of work that people do. is very important to the economic growth of a country.
Tourism can help a country's economy and The basic structures needed for an area to function, for example roads and communications. . For example, it provides jobs. For places such as the Caribbean, tourism is their main source of income.
Question
Study the tables above.
Describe, in detail, the pattern of international tourist arrivals.
- The tables show that tourism has increased in all areas between 1990 and 2019.
- The largest increase in tourist arrivals was in Europe, which increased from 261.5 million people in 1990 to 744 million people in 2019.
- The most popular place to visit in 2019 was Europe, with 744 million tourists.
- The least popular place to visit in 2019 was the Middle East with 65 million tourists.
