WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION (WTO)
TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS 1997
GLOBAL OVERVIEW
■ In 1996 the inal fgures for international tourism show an increase of 5.5 per cent for arrivals and 8 per cent for tourism receipts (excluding international transport) . These results outstrip the estimates that had been made at the end of 1996. Tourism in 1996 seemed to have entered a consolidation phase, also favoured by a certain revival in consumer confidence.
■ Preliminary data for the whole year of 1997 reveal a setback in the growth rate of tourism activity worldwide, with tourist arrivals increasing by 3 per cent to 613 million and tourism receipts(excluding international transportation)growing by 2.3 per cent to US$ 444 billion. These trends were mainly determined by the stagnation of international tourism in East Asia and the Pacifc in 1997, the worst tourism year for East Asia and the Pacifc since 1989.
■ The markets are becoming increasingly competitive as more and more locations look to tourism as an economic generator to create new employment and income or replace existing industrial infrastructure. New changes to tourism demand will focus on an increased awareness of the environment in terms of consumers concerns regarding tourism development negatively afecting the environment of travellers interest in visiting and maintaining environmentally sound destinations. A second change is the development of man-made attractions(theme parks ormega-resorts)that combine tourism activities with entertainment or gaming opportunities. Finally, a fundamental change is occurring in most major generating markets as the population of these countries age particularly in the countries that experience a signifcant postwar baby-boom. There is also a trend in greater interest for cultural products.
REGIONAL RESULTS
■ At regional level, the preliminary estimates for 1997 show an improvement in the rate of growth in some regions compared to 1996 with the striking exception of East Asia and the Pacifc.
■ on a region by region basis, the preliminary results for 1997 indicate that：
● AFRICA registered the highest growth rate of tourist arrivals of all regions, boosted by the buoyant results in south Africa and Moroccoo
● SOUTH ASIA exhibited the second highest growth in tourist arrivals, followed by the MIDDLE EAST,EUROPE and the AMERICAS;
● EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC suffered the most severe set back of all times of its international tourism with the growth rate of arrivals dropping from an almost two digit level in 1996 to a growth of 1 per cent in 1997;
● EUROPE maintained a healthy growth of tourism, above 3 per cent for tourist arrivals.
