International tourism posts strongest half-year results since 2010: UNWTO

Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the first six months of 2017, some 36 million more than the same period of 2016.

At 6 percent, growth was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong demand for international travel in the first half of 2017, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6 percent compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4 percent or higher growth since 2010. This represents the strongest half year in seven years.

Results are underpinned by robust growth in many destinations and a continuation of the recovery in those that suffered declines in previous years. In the UNWTO regions, growth was strongest in the Middle East (+9 percent), Europe (+8 percent) and Africa (+8 percent), followed by Asia and the Pacific (+6 percent) and the Americas (+3 percent).

The first half of the year usually accounts for about 46 percent of the total annual international arrivals, with the second half longer by three days and including the Northern Hemisphere high season months of July and August.

"The first half of 2017 shows healthy growth in an increasingly dynamic and resilient tourism market, including a strong recovery in some of the destinations impacted by security challenges last year," the UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said, ahead of the 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly, to be held in Chengdu, China, from 13th to 16th September, 2017.

Mediterranean destinations reported particularly strong growth in the first half of 2017, as reflected in the results for Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+12 percent), North Africa (+16 percent) and the Middle East (+9 percent). This trend is driven by the continued strength of many destinations in the area, combined with a significant rebound in destinations that suffered decreases in previous years, such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia.

Furthermore, international tourist arrivals through June grew 8 percent in Northern Europe, 6 percent in Western Europe and 4 percent in Central and Eastern Europe, while Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 4 percent more arrivals.