Total export earnings generated by international tourism in 2013 reached US$1.4 Trillion. Receipts earned by destinations from international visitors grew by 5% to reach US$1159bn, while an additional US$218bn was earned by international passenger transport.

 

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, receipts in destinations worldwide from expenditure by international visitors on accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, shopping and other services and goods, reached an estimated US$1,159bn in 2013.

 

Growth exceeded the long-term trend, reaching 5% in real terms (taking into account exchange rate fluctuations and inflation). The growth rate in receipts matched the increase in international tourist arrivals, also up by 5%, reaching 1087m 2013, from 1035m in 2012.

 

“These are very positive results as growth in international tourists last year was equal to growth in income generated by over one billion tourists that travelled the world in 2013, for business, leisure, visiting friends and relatives or other purposes,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

 

TOURISM INTEGRAL TO MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

“Such results confirm the increasingly important role of the tourism sector in stimulating economic growth and contributing to international trade. These results show that it is time to position tourism higher in the trade agenda so as to maximize its capacity to promote trade and regional integration.”

 

According to figures from UNWTO, international tourism (travel and passenger transport) accounts for 29% of the world’s exports of services and 6% of overall exports of goods and services. As a worldwide export category, tourism ranks fifth after fuels, chemicals, food and automotive products, while ranking first in many developing countries.

 

In absolute terms, receipts in destinations around the world increased by US$81bn from US$1,078bn in 2012. Europe, which accounts for 42% of all international tourism receipts, saw the biggest growth in 2013; up US$35bn to US$489bn. Destinations in Asia and the Pacific (accounting for 31% of all tourism receipts) increased earnings by US$30bn to US$359bn.

 

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

 

In the Americas (20% share), receipts increased by US$16bn to a total of US$229bn. In the Middle East (4% share) total tourism receipts are estimated at US$47bn and in Africa (3% share) at US$34bn.

 

ASIA PACIFIC

In relative terms, Asia and the Pacific (+8%) recorded the largest increase in receipts, followed by the Americas (+6%) and Europe (+4%).

 

Among the top ten tourism destinations by receipts, Asian destinations Thailand (+23%), Hong Kong (China) and Macao (China) (both +18%) saw strong growth, while the United Kingdom (+13%) and the United States (+11%) also posted double-digit increases. Receipts in Spain, France, China, Italy and Germany grew between 1% and 5%.

 

The emerging economies of China, Russia and Brazil have been dynamic drivers of outbound tourism in recent years. In 2013, these three source markets accounted for some US$40bn of the total US$81bn increase in international tourism expenditure.

 

China, which became the largest outbound market in 2012 with an expenditure of US$102bn, saw an increase of 26% in spending last year to a total of US$129bn. The Russian Federation became the fourth largest outbound market in 2013, following a 25% growth to US$54bn. Brazil entered the top ten by expenditure at tenth place, on the back of a 13% increase to US$25bn.

 

The performance of key advanced economy source markets was comparatively more modest, with the exception of Australia, which spent 9% more. France (+5%) recovered from a weak 2012, whereas the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada all increased expenditure by between 2% and 4%.