One billion tourists predicted for 2012

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Update: 12:10, Sunday, Sep 30,2012 (GMT+7)

The number of worldwide tourists is set to exceed one billion for the first time this year, new statistics have suggested.

A record of 467 million tourists travelled overseas from January to June, according to figures released this week by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Traditionally, international tourism is at its highest level in July and August, which would indicate the threshold of a billion tourists in a year is likely to be passed for the first time.

"You don't have an even spread throughout the year. In a normal year, the first six months account for a total volume of 45 per cent of the year," said John Kester of the UNWTO.

In 2011, there was a total of 982 million international tourists.

So far this year, tourism has increased in every region of the world. Asia showed the strongest growth with an eight per cent increase on last year’s figures.

A total of four per cent more people travelled to Europe, the world’s most visited region, in the first half of this year compared with the equivalent period last year.

The number of visitors to Africa also grew strongly, with its seven per cent increase partly attributed to greater stability in Tunisia after a turbulent 2011.

Durban Beach - Africa

“Tourism is one of the few economic sectors in the world growing strongly, driving economic progress in developing and developed countries alike … creating much needed jobs,” said Taleb Rifai, the UNWTO secretary-general.

The report also measured the amount of money spent on travel abroad. Chinese travellers increased their spending more than any other nationality, with a 30 per cent rise in the amount of money paid on international tourism compared with the first six months of last year.

A total of $1,030 billion was spent on overseas tourism in 2011, according to UNWTO figures.

Athens

The most visited country in the world was France, which had 79.5 million tourists arriving last year. That placed it comfortably ahead of the United States, which was ranked second with 62.3 million visits.

The United Kingdom was in seventh place, with 29.2 million visits recorded.

Nick

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