Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2018) Excerpt -2 A tripartite landscape becomes more obvious in global economy [1]

1. In the global tourism landscape, the share of Europe has contracted, that of Americas has remained stable, and that of Asia-Pacific Region has kept increasing

Based on global shares of different regions in terms of total tourist arrivals and total tourism revenue, the share of Europe has kept falling down. The share of Americas in terms of tourist arrivals has moved down to some extent, but the share in terms of tourism revenue has edged up, and the share of Asia-Pacific Region has evidently risen.

In terms of total tourist arrivals, Asia-Pacific Region has contributed 66.6% of the global total tourist arrivals in 2017 (Figure 1.6), representing a rise of 1.6% over 65.0% in 2016 (Table 1.7). From 2016 to 2017, the share of Americas in global total tourist arrivals fell down by 0.7% from 16.5% to 15.8%, that of Europe went down by 0.7% from 15.6% to 14.9%, that of the Middle East has slid down by 0.1%, and that of Africa has kept unchanged. Generally, Europe, Americas, Asia-Pacific Region contribute 97.3% of the global total tourist arrivals.

Figure 1.6 Shares in Global Total Tourist Arrivals by Region (2016)

Figure 1.7 Shares in Global Total Tourist Arrivals by Region (2017)

In terms of total tourism revenue: in 2016-2017, the share of Asia-Pacific Region has risen by 0.8% from 32.3% to 33.1%, that of Americas has edged up by 0.2% from 30.7% to 30.9%, that of Europe has fell down 1% from 32.0% to 31.0%, and that of the Middle East and Africa has kept unchanged. Generally, Europe, Americas and Asia-Pacific Region contribute 95.0% of the global total tourism revenue (Figure 1.8 and Figure 1.9).

Figure 1.8 Shares in Global Total Tourism revenue by Region (2016)

Figure 1.9 Shares in Global Total Tourism revenue by Region (2017)

Table 1.6 Top 10 Countries by Global Total Tourist Arrivals and Global Total Tourism revenue in 2017

We expect that in 2018, in terms of total tourist arrivals and total tourism revenue, the shares of Asia-Pacific Region will continue to grow, those of Europe will edge down, and those of the rest two regions will not change a lot. Generally, the shares of different regions in the global total tourism revenue will basically keep unchanged (Table 1.7) in 2018.

Table 1.7 Shares in Global Tourism by Region in 2018 (Forecast)

2. Europe has seen stable tourism growth and displayed a high level of tourism spending.

In 2017, Europe recorded the total tourist arrivals of 1,769 million, rising 2.1% year on year, and the total tourism revenue hit USD 1.63 trillion, growing 1.1% year on year. We expect that in 2018, in terms of total tourist arrivals and total tourism revenue, Europe will respectively realize 1,806 million and USD 1.67 trillion. The growth rate of total tourist arrivals will keep unchanged as opposed to 2017, and that of total tourism revenue will be 1.5% higher than that in 2017 and reach 2.6% (Table 1.8).

Table 1.8 Europe's Tourism Economy

It is worth attention that the tourism expenditures in countries of Europe are obviously higher than those in the countries of other regions.

In 2017, France, Spain, Germany and UK recorded the total tourist arrivals of 280 million, 200 million, 170 million and 160 million, respectively, ranking the fifth, seventh, ninth and tenth in terms of the number of tourist arrivals received among all countries. Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain ranked the third, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth by total tourism revenue respectively.

3. Asia-Pacific Region has seen a quick tourism growth, and the growth rate of tourist arrivals is a little higher than that of tourism revenue

In 2017, in terms of total tourist arrivals and total tourism revenue, Asia-Pacific Region respectively recorded 7,914 million, rising 9.4% year on year, and hit USD 1.74 trillion, growing 6.9% year on year. We expect that in 2018, Asia-Pacific Region will realize the total tourist arrivals of 8,617 million and the total tourism revenue of USD 1.89 trillion, and that compared to 2017, the growth rate of total tourist arrivals will slow down by 0.8% to 8.9%, and that of total tourism revenue will be 1.7% higher than that in 2017 and reach 8.6% (Table 1.9).

Table 1.9 Tourism Economy of Asia-Pacific Region

The number of countries from Asia-Pacific Region is only second to that from Europe among Top 10 tourism countries worldwide. In 2017, China, India, Japan and Indonesia recorded the total tourist arrivals of 4.53 billion, 1.54 billion, 320 million and 260 million, ranking the first, second, fourth and sixth in terms of the number of tourist arrivals received among all countries. China, Japan and India ranked the second, fifth and seventh by total tourism revenue, and became the fastest-growing countries.

4. Americas have maintained a low growth rate, and the growth rate of tourism revenue is evidently higher than that of total tourist arrivals.

In 2017, Americas recorded the total tourist arrivals of 1,875 million, rising 1.9% year on year, and the total tourism revenue hit USD 1.62 trillion, growing 4.9% year on year. We expect that in 2018, Americas will realize the total tourist arrivals of 1,917 million and the total tourism revenue of USD 1.73 trillion, the growth rate of total tourist arrivals will reach 2.2% and speed up over 2017, and that of total tourism revenue will be 1.3% higher than that in 2017 and reach 6.2% (Table 1.10).

Table 1.10 Tourism Economy of Americas

Of Top 10 global tourism countries in 2017, US has received the total of 1.25 billion tourists, ranking the third worldwide, and realized the total tourism revenue of USD 1,030 billion, ranking the first globally. Brazil has received the total of 180 million tourists, ranking the eighth worldwide, and Mexico has recorded the total tourism revenue of USD 140 billion, ranking the ninth globally.

5. Africa has maintained a low tourism growth rate and seen a growing level of per capita expenditure

In 2017, Africa recorded the total tourist arrivals of 148 million, rising 1.0% year on year, and the total tourism revenue hit USD 107.9 billion, growing 3.5% year on year. Obviously, the per capita expenditure of African tourists has remarkably grown. We expect that in 2018, Africa will realize the total tourist arrivals of 153 million and the total tourism revenue of USD 114 billion respectively, the growth rate of total tourist arrivals will reach 2.9% and speed up by 3.9% over 2017, and that of total tourism revenue will be 2.1% higher than that in 2017 and reach 5.6% (Table 1.11).

Table 1.11 Tourism Economy of Africa

6. In the Middle East, the growth rate of tourism is relatively low, and growth rate of tourism revenue is higher than that of tourist arrivals.

In 2017, the Middle East recorded the total tourist arrivals of 171 million, rising 0.9% year on year, and the total tourism revenue hit USD 150 billion, growing 4.8% year on year. We expect that in 2018, Americas will realize the total tourist arrivals of 178 million and the total tourism revenue of USD 1.16 trillion respectively, the growth rate of total tourist arrivals will reach 4.6% and speed up by 3.7% over 2017, and that of total tourism revenue will be 1.3% higher than that in 2017 and reach 6.1% (Table 1.12).

Table 1.12 General of Tourism Economy in the Middle East

Report Note:

[1] This Report borrows the practice of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the division of global regions, and divides the regions into Europe, Asia-Pacific Region, Americas, the Middle East and Africa.