Record Year for Global Tourism By BBC - Caribbean January 29, 2007 ........................................................................................................................................ The World Tourism Organisation is reporting a record year for the tourism industry. Countries worldwide recorded 842 million international tourist arrivals last year, an increase of four and a half percent over 2005. The biggest growth area was Africa, at 8 percent. The Madrid-based World Tourism Organisation said Africa benefitted from travellers' fears of terrorism elsewhere in the world. It said that although no destination is immune to terrorist attacks, sub-Saharan Africa in particular is seen as being a long way from the centre of zones of tension and unrest. The WTO says the region with the weakest growth was the Americas - just 2.0 percent - but the Caribbean posted a higher than average growth rate of five percent. 2007 Forecast According to the WTO, the increase in international tourist arrivals is projected to be around 4%, much in line with the forecast long-term annual growth rate of 4.1% through 2020. Growth is expected to be more solid as businesses, consumers, governments and international institutions such as the WTO are now better able to anticipate shocks and to respond more effectively to crises. Travellers are better informed and have become more adept at weighing their options and now include security factors as just another consideration among others when choosing their destinations. It says that as a whole, the global economy is expected to maintain last   "The Caribbean posted higher than average growth of five percent" World Travel Organisation year's growth level. Oil prices have shown a tendency to remain less volatile and do not pose the risk to economic stability they did a year ago. Nevertheless, some uncertainties remain on the global economic front and they could impact the tourism forecasts. WTO however cautioned that increasing interest rates in some countries and regions could diminish available income. And the reports said a weaker US dollar might affect foreign travel demand by Americans. On the other hand, a stronger euro could stimulate European international travel. Caribbean governments and tourism officials also fear that their US tourist arrivals could be setback by a US government requiring that its citizens travelling to the region posses a passport in order to re-enter the country. The WTO concluded that against the good tourism results of the past three years and given the still overall favourable economic outlook, this positive trend in the sector looks likely to consolidate in 2007. latest news Jamaica Police Investigages Scam British Prime Minister Sorry for Slavery CARICOM Issues Explored Angllicans Face Difficult Summit Trinidadian Carnival Exodus New Caribbean Program Premiers on NY TV Exemption for Antigua Nurses More Complaints About CARICOM Grenada Goofs: Anthem Mixup Windies Selectors to Mull Over CWC Squad More Cricket World Cup Semis Tickets on Sale JA Airport Revamp Won't Be Ready for Cup Celebrating Bob Marley with Food & Fashion CARICOM Single Space Travel Begins Caribbean Tops Prisoner's List AIDS Discrimination in the Caribbean Whaling Showdown Likely Record Year for Global Tourism Five Killed by Jamaican Police Four Dead in Haiti UN Operation   | | | | |