Africa welcomed 62 million tourists in 2017 according to the “UNWTO World Tourism Barometer” presented this January 15. A figure that is up by 8% as in 2016 and above the global average estimated at 7%.
The continent is still the little finger of the planet tourism with a representation of 4,7% 1,322 billion tourists who traveled the world last year. Internally, it was North Africa that pulled the sector on the continent with arrivals up 13%, while those in sub-Saharan Africa rose only 5%.
At the international level, with 7% growth, the sector recorded its best year since 2010. International tourist arrivals in Europe reached 671 million in 2017, a remarkable progression of 8% after a relatively duller 2016 year. Asia-Pacific (+ 6%) has hosted in 2017 324 millions of international tourists. The Americas (+ 3%) accounted for 207 millions of international tourist arrivals in 2017. And the Middle East (+ 5%) reports 58 million international tourist arrivals in 2017.
“These results are in part attributable to the global economic boom and strong demand for outbound tourism from many traditional and emerging markets,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary General (World Tourism Organization).
A beautiful year 2018 in perspective
This momentum should continue in 2018 but at a rate between 4% and 5% depending on the report. Europe and the Americas are expected to advance by 3,5% -4,5%, 5% -6% Asia Pacific, 5% -7% Africa and 4% -6% Middle East.
