Global tourism exports in 2018 amounted to USD 1.7 trillion, or USD 5 billion a day.
According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Tourism Highlights, 2019 Edition, total export earnings generated by international tourism increased by 4% in real terms in 2018. International tourism reached another USD 256 billion from international passenger transport taken by non-residents. This is on top of the USD 1.5 trillion in receipts that tourist destinations earned.
UNTWO’s yearly report also reveals the 5% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2018. This record is two years ahead of the World Tourism Organization’s long-term forecasts. In addition, export earnings from tourism rose to USD 1.7 trillion, an increase of 4%.
The report shows that France recorded the biggest number of international tourist arrivals, while the United States remained the largest tourism earner in 2018.
“Asia and the Pacific and Africa led growth in arrivals with a 7% increase in 2018, while Asia and the Pacific and Europe enjoyed above-average growth in tourism earnings,” the report read.
China was the world's largest spender in 2018, having spent USD 277 billion on international tourism.
2018 became the ninth consecutive year of sustained growth. With this, tourism now represents the 7% of global exports, expanding at a faster rate than merchandise exports for the last seven years.
The UNWTO International Tourism Highlights was released in lieu of its 23rd General Assembly in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
“This latest edition of our Highlights demonstrates the strength and potential of the tourism sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
“These results were driven by a favourable economic environment, a growing middle class in emerging economies, technological advances, new business models, increased air capacity, affordable travel costs and visa facilitation. UNWTO is committed to ensuring that this continued growth is managed in a responsible and sustainable way and tourism is rightly seen as a key driver of social and economic development, job creation and equality,” he added.
