Northstar

The Indispensable Travel Industry Read Feature Highlight Smart phone applications in the tourism industry Vol. 2 Issue 23 | 12 July 2011 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Travel & Meetings Group, Ten Alps Communications Asia Pte Ltd Europe now leading global tourism growth Editor's Pick DoubleTree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur News Page 2 The TGV – France. LONDON – International tourist arrivals grew by 4.5 per cent in the fi rst four months of 2011, despite new challenges emerging since the beginning of the year. According to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, growth was positive in all regions with the exception of the Middle East. Some sub-regions achieved double-digit growth: South America (+17 per cent ), South Asia (+14 per cent ) and South-East Asia (+10 per cent ). "Global tourism continues to consolidate the recovery of 2010 despite the impact of recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the tragic events in Japan, which are temporarily affecting travel flows to these regions. We should nonetheless remain vigilant as we face other persisting uncertainties such as high unemployment and increased public austerity measures," said UNWTO Secretary- General, Taleb Rifai. UNWTO expects that destinations currently facing diffi culties will see demand recover towards the end of the year. "It is time to support those destinations and help their tourism sectors to rebound, contributing to overall economic and social stability and progress," Rifai added. Short-term prospects remain largely favorable, as reflected in the UNWTO Confidence Index based on a survey among the UNWTO Panel of Experts. In spite of the changed circumstances, the over 350 participating experts worldwide maintain a positive outlook for the period May-August. Europe now leading tourism growth Between January and April 2011 destinations worldwide recorded 268 million international tourist arrivals, some 12 million more compared to the 256 million registered in the same period in 2010. April was the strongest month with an estimated increase of six per cent. This reflects a late Easter holiday and contrasts with the weak April of 2010 when European airspace was closed for nearly a week due to the ash cloud following the eruption of a volcano in Iceland. January (+6 per cent) was also strong, while February and March were comparatively weaker (both at around three per cent).Europe exceeded expectations (+6 per cent) and posted the highest growth in the fi rst four months of 2011. Results refl ect a delayed recovery in various European destinations and source markets, the late Easter holiday and the compensation for the negative month of April 2010, affected by the volcanic ash cloud. Destinations in Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe performed particularly well. Growth in Asia and the Pacifi c (+5 per cent) was in line with the world average, but slightly below previous prospects. Asia, and in particular North-East Asia, WA welcomes Ningaloo Coast's World Heritage Listing Page 3 suffered the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan which affected both its inbound and outbound travel as well as intra-regional travel from other markets. Positive Outlook As the peak tourist season gets underway in the northern hemisphere, short-term prospects remain positive. This is ref lected in the UNWTO Confi dence Index, a short-term outlook based on consultations with over 350 experts worldwide, which remains largely optimistic for the period May- August 2011. Th e re are however ma r ke d differences in the confi dence levels for different world regions, with experts in the Americas and Europe anticipating the best outcomes. Confi dence remains high in Africa, but lower than might have been expected in Asia and the Pacific. Experts in the Middle East are the least optimistic.

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