Hoteria Y Turismo

Interim Update, April 2009
Volume 7 • No. 1 • January 2009

months of 2009 indicate a continuation of the negative
growth trend already experienced in the second half of
2008, when international tourist arrivals declined by 2%,
following a strong 6% increase in the first half year.

Contents
Short-term tourism data 2009
World
UNWTO Response
Regions
Europe
Asia and the Pacific
TheAmericas
Africa and the Middle East

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5
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Interim Update, April 2009
This is the first issue of the Interim Update of the UNWTO
World Tourism Barometer, intended to bridge the gap
between the full editions of the Barometer published every
four months. It will be made available to members through
the UNWTO elibrary in electronic format only.
This update forms partof UNWTO’s activity in terms of
support to its members in the face of the economic crisis
and aims at providing a closer market monitoring through an
update of the monthly data included in the tables on
International Tourist Arrivals. A comprehensive analysis of
international tourism trends will be included in the next full
version of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer scheduled
for the endof June.

International Tourist Arrivals, monthly evolution
World

10

5

0

-5

-10

2008

2009*

Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ©

World

•

(% change)

15

Inbound Tourism: short-term data 2009

•

Based on initial results reported by a large number of
destination countries, international tourist arrivals worldwide are estimated at 59 million forJanuary 2009 and
58 million for February. This represents a decline of
about 8% in this period, compared with the very strong
first two months of 2008. The overall volume is now at
about the same level as recorded in 2007 for this same
period.
(Continued on page 3)

International Tourist Arrivals, monthly evolution
World

The world economy faces an unprecedented crisis,
which hastriggered one of the most severe recessions
in generations. The world’s GDP is forecast to decline
by some 1.3% in 2009, according to the International
Monetary Fund (IMF, World Economic Outlook (WEO)
April 2009), exports have been dramatically reduced
and all advanced economies are in recession. Even
emerging economies, which at the beginning seemed to
resist better, are rapidly facing the impactof the
economic crisis.

110

(million)

2006
2007

100

2008
2009*

90
80
70
60
50

Although tourism has been more resilient than some
other economic sectors, it has not been immune, and
international tourism demand has deteriorated further
under the impact of such global economic recession.
Preliminary figures compiled by UNWTO for the first

40

1

2

3

45

6

Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ©

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Interim update April 2009

The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is a publication of the
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). By monitoring short-term
tourism trends on a regular basis, UNWTO aims to provide all
those involved directly or indirectly in tourism with adequate upto-date statistics andanalysis in a timely fashion.
The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is published three
times a year (in January, June and October). Each issue contains
three regular sections: an overview of short-term tourism data
from destination and generating countries and air transport; the
results of the latest survey among the UNWTO Panel of Tourism
Experts, providing an evaluation of and prospects forshort-term
tourism performance; and selected economic data relevant for
tourism. The objective for future editions of the UNWTO World
Tourism Barometer will be to broaden its scope and improve
coverage gradually over time.
The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is prepared by
UNWTO’s Market Trends, Competitiveness and Trade in Tourism
Services Section, with the collaboration of consultants, Nancy...