The billion plus tourists: 1.035 billion traveled globally in 2012
Skift Take
Large parts of the world were in turmoil in 2012, and yet the travel numbers keep growing amidst increasing globalization, trade, and travel from parts of the world that weren't used to so much not so long ago. The global locus of travel is moving away from the western hemisphere, that much is certain.
The much awaited global tourism numbers are here, and we have now entered the era of the billion plus for the first time in history. The global traveler community crossed the one billion mark in 2012, and today the United Nations World Tourism Organization released the official figures: 1.035 billion tourists crossed international borders last year.
Topline numbers:
International tourist arrivals grew by 4% in 2012 to reach 1.035 billion.
Additional 39 million international tourists arrived in 2012, up from 996 million in 2011,
Emerging economies (+4.1%) regained the lead over advanced economies (+3.6%), with Asia and the Pacific showing the strongest results.
By region, prospects for 2013 are stronger for Asia and the Pacific (+5% to +6%), followed by Africa (+4% to +6%), the Americas (+3% to +4%), Europ
