2012’s 1 Billion Tourists Bring Growth and Economic Opportunity for 2013

The UNWTO recently released a historic record of over 1 billion tourists in 2012. But where did those tourists travel to? And which countries had a record number of tourists?

Asia-Pacific and the Americas proved to be the most accessible tourist destination due to its tourist entry requirements. Asia Pacific’s international tourist activity increased by 7% in 2012 along with 5% from the Americas. Africa saw a rise in tourists after 2011 and the turmoil in Northern Africa with a record of 52 million tourists. The Middle East improved a bit after a 7% decline in 2011 due to the political unrest in the region, however, 2012 recorded a loss of 3 million tourists.

Which destinations saw a rise in international tourists? The top ten:

Japan +37%
India +22%
South Africa +22%
Sweden +19%
Republic of Korea +19%
Thailand +18%
Poland +16%
Hong Kong (China) +16%
USA +10%
United Kingdom +6%

The UNWTO reported a record number of international tourists traveling to emerging economic tourist destinations. So what does this mean for 2013? In 2013 we can expect to see an increase in travel to these destinations. This rise in international travel brings more economic opportunity for businesses. So keep an eye out for potential job opportunities in the travel industry, they might be in a country you would least expect.

Written by, Emily Ziolkowski
Twitter: @Emily_HWER