TRAVELLER NUMBERS RISING AGAIN IN 2010
TRADE RELEASE 16th
November, 2009
Experts speaking
in London at the World Travel Market Vision – The Global Economic
Forum were cautiously optimistic about prospects for recovery in 2010
but warn of further challenges such as rising unemployment.
Euromonitor
International research unveiled at the forum predicted a return to
growth for global GDP figures – from a fall of 1.1% in 2009 to a rise of
3.1% in 2010.
The recovery
should see arrivals fall just 1.4% in 2010, rather than the 7.9% decline
seen in 2009, said Caroline Bremner, global travel and tourism manager
at Euromonitor International.
The UN World
Tourism Organisation has forecast arrivals will grow by 1% or 2% next
year, but Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, warned that tourism receipts
were lagging behind by two percentage points.
‘If we increase
expenditure per tourist, that is better than increasing numbers,’ he
said. ‘People are travelling for shorter times and spending less.’
Alan Chamberlain,
Tourism Connections Network Managing Director, backed this view,
commenting ‘we’re seeing a similar trend with our client’s in Australia
& Asia where this forward growth is returning already. 2010 should see
good growth for savvy operators who are gearing-up now for new market
opportunities’ he said.
Tourism
Connections Network provide market intelligence and B2B services that
assist clients keep their position at the leading-edge of industry
trends.
ENDS





