In the first quarter of the year, worldwide destinations welcomed 348 million tourists, an increase of 4.6 percent over 2015. According to data from the World Tourism Organization, this year is possibly the seventh consecutive year of above-average growth. “Results show a strong desire to travel and this continues to drive tourism grown, “ said Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, UNWTO. “Destinations keep benefitting from solid demand across all world regions despite ongoing challenges, showing that tourism is a dynamic and resilient economic sector.” “Yet, despite these good results, the tragic events of recent months remind us that safety and security remain a major challenge for all,” Rifai added. Asia and the Pacific saw the highest increase in international arrivals, enjoying a growth of more than 9 percent. When regions were broken down into sub-regions, sub-Saharan Africa saw the largest growth, at 13 percent. In the Americas, Central and South America led growth, both at 7 percent, with the Caribbean and North America following closely behind, at 6 and 5 percent, respectively. However, the Middle East saw a decline in international arrivals, by 7 percent. In the second quarter of the year, UNWTO expects approximately 500 million individuals to travel internationally, accounting for 41 percent of the year’s total arrivals.