Changing Face of World Travel

Over the last two decades, destinations such as Europe and the Americas have lost ground to East Asian/Pacific and other regions.

Percentage Share of Tourist Arrivals in the World:

1975

South Asia: 0.7%

Middle East: 1.6%

Africa: 2.1%

Americas: 22.5%

East Asia/Pacific: 3.9%

Europe: 69.2%

*

1996

South Asia: 0.8%

Middle East: 2.5%

Africa: 3.3%

Americas: 19.5%

East Asia/Pacific: 15.2%

Europe: 58.7%

Noyes: “Tourist” includes leisure and business travelers. “Americas” includes North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Source: World Tourism Organization.