News / Business

UNWTO: Exports from global tourism reach record 1.5 trillion

Saturday, 18 April 2015 8:37 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 18 April 2015 8:38 AM ]

Two women stand in front of a giant billboard featuring a view of the war-ravaged Potsdamer Platz taken in June 1945, at the end of the Second World war, at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin April 17, 2015. ©AFP

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced that total exports from international tourism reached a record USD 1.5 trillion in 2014.

“International tourism is an increasingly significant component of international trade as seen in export earnings from international tourism and passenger transport, which reached US$ 1.5 trillion in 2014” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “In a scenario with decreasing commodity prices, spending on international tourism grew significantly in 2014, proving the sector’s capacity to stimulate economic growth, boost exports and create jobs”, he added.

UNWTO said international tourist arrivals rose by 4.4% in last year, reaching a total 1,135 million, up from 1,087 million in 2013.

According to the data released by UNWTO, earning of Europe, which accounts for 41% of worldwide international tourism receipts, rose US$ 17 billion to US$ 509 billion.

Asia and the Pacific witnessed an increase of US$ 16 billion, reaching US$ 377 billion. Meanwhile, receipts increased by US$ 10 billion to a total of US$ 274 billion in the Americas.

tourism receipts in the Middle East saw an estimated US$ 4 billion rise and reached US$ 49 billion and in Africa tourism receipts increased by by US$ 1 billion to US$ 36 billion (euro 27 bn).

Meanwhile, Northern Europe, Southern and Mediterranean Europe, North-East Asia, Oceania, South Asia, Caribbean, Central America, South America and the Middle East saw 5% increases in tourism receipts.

The United States (US$ 177 billion) and Spain (US$ 65 billion) maintained first and second positions in the top ten ranking by tourism earnings.

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