International tourism reached new heights in 2017, as confirmed by a report from the World Tourism Organization.
Total international tourism arrivals reached more than 1.3 million in 2017, which accounts for more than 84 million than 2016, setting a new record.
In 2017, destinations earned $1.3 trillion. International transportation by non-residents accounted for another $240 billion, raising total tourism exports to $1.6 trillion, or 7 percent of the world’s total exports.
According to WTO, this growth is driven by sustainable demand in destinations all over the planet. China leads global outbound travel with nearly one-fifth of the world’s travel dollars coming from the country.
France and Spain took the top spots as the most visited destinations. Japan and the Russian Federation also came into the list’s top 10 ranking.
According to WTO, early 2018 data shows travel continues growing at a strong pace.
Does the increase of international tourism surprise you? When was the last time you traveled internationally? Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.
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