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Nelson Gahadza Business Correspondent
International tourist arrivals grew 4,6 percent in the first 6 months of 2014 at 517 million which was 22 million more than same period in 2013. According to a latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, growth was strongest in the Americas at 6 percent, followed by Asia and the Pacific and Europe at 5 percent each.

“These results show that tourism is consolidating the positive performance of recent years, providing development and economic opportunities worldwide,” UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai said.

He said despite geopolitical and economic challenges, the number of international tourist arrivals has grown 5 percent a year on average since 2010, a trend that has translated into more economic growth, more exports and more jobs.

Mr Rifai said the growth is in line with the UNWTO forecast for the full year 2014 where international arrivals are expected to increase from 4 percent to 4,5 percent worldwide above UNWTO’s long term forecast of 3,8 percent per year for the period 2010 to 2020.

According to the UNWTO Africa’s international tourist numbers grew 3 percent as the recovery consolidated in North Africa at 4 percent.

UNWTO said the current Ebola virus disease outbreak might affect tourism to the region due to misperceptions about the transmission of the virus.

“The main focus at the moment is on taking and supporting action to contain the virus. We must also ensure these misperceptions do not hurt the economy,” Mr Rifai said.

Europe at 5 percent growth was the most visited region worldwide. In terms of source markets, data for the period show a consolidation of the rebound in spending in travel abroad registered in 2013 in some advanced economies.

Expenditure out of the Italian and Australian markets was up 8 percent and 7 percent respectively, while the US market was up 5 percent.

UNWTO said demand generated by emerging markets also continues to be strong though decelerating as compared to 2013. Chinese outbound expenditure was up 16 percent in the period compared to 26 percent in the whole of 2013, while expenditure out of the Russian Federation was up 4 percent compared to 25 percent last year.