 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Madrid (AFP) Dec 9, 2010 France will be the world's most visited country in 2010 followed by the United States, with China and Spain battling for third place, the UN World Tourism Organisation said Thursday. "France will remain number one," the secretary general of the Madrid-based body, Taleb Rifai, told a news conference. China was now in fourth place but by the end of the year it "might overcome Spain," he added. "China decided a few years ago that tourism should be a pillar of its economy, and it worked. The centre of gravity is moving towards China, and Asia in general." By 2020 China will be the the world's most visited country as well as the top source of foreign tourists, Rifai said. France attracted 74.2 million visitors in 2009 followed by the United States with 54.9 million visitors and Spain 52.2 million, according to the UN tourism body. China, which as recently as 2000 received just eight million visitors, was the world's fourth most popular tourist destination in 2009 with 50.9 million visitors. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation will publish its tourism rankings for 2010 in January. In terms of actual tourist spending, China overtook France to occupy fourth place last year. Chinese tourists splurged 43.7 billion dollars (33 billion euros) on their travels abroad in 2009 despite the economic downturn, propping up other economies by eating out, occupying hotel rooms and visiting attractions, the organisation said in its latest bulletin. That compared to 36.2 billion dollars in the previous year when China was the world's fifth biggest source of tourism spending. Germany remained the world's top international tourism spender last year at 80.8 billion dollars, down from 91 billion dollars in 2008, followed by the United States and Britain. Last month, the UN body announced it was working with China to draw up the country's first national tourism law. Rifai said "2009 was the worst year ever in the last 60 years" for global tourism but the sector had bounced back this year and is expected to post growth in 2011 as well. The UN body predicts international tourist arrivals will grow by 5.0-6.0 percent in 2010 to between 920 and 930 million arrivals, and will increase 4.0 percent in 2011.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Global Trade News
Chase for India's rural rupee inspires tech innovationsNew Delhi (AFP) Dec 7, 2010 India's hunger for new technology is as sharp in its countless small villages as in its shiny office towers or shopping malls - and businesses are waking up to an area of massive potential growth. Specific designs being aimed at Indian villagers include a mobile phone cash-transfer system, robust low-energy refrigerators and a clever twist on the humble kitchen stove. Household cook Shi ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
