The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) published that the international tourism arrivals grew by 5 per cent in 2013, reaching a record number of arrivals of just over 1 billion. UNWTO noted that demand for international tourism was strongest for destinations in Asia and the Pacific (up 6 per cent), Africa (up 6 per cent) and Europe (up 5 per cent). The leading sub-regions were South-east Asia (up 10 per cent), Central and Eastern Europe (up 7 per cent), Southern and Mediterranean Europe (up 6 per cent) and North Africa (up 6 per cent). “The positive results of 2013, and the expected global economic improvement in 2014, set the scene for another positive year for international tourism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. |