Healthy rebound for global tourism

Of interest to us here---

1) In Europe, travel to long-haul destinations, which fell by 9 percent from
January to August last year, grew by 12 percent during the same period this
year.


2) The report also said outbound trips from the United States will rise by
around 8 percent in 2004 to 58.5 million. The total number of outbound trips
is expected to reach its previous 2000 peak of 60.9 million in 2007.

*****


Healthy rebound for global tourism


LONDON, England (AP) -- Global tourism is on the rebound as world travelers
gain confidence from a long-awaited economic recovery and downgrade their
fears over international terrorism and health scares, according to a report
by a tourism industry group.

More than three years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the
United States spooked many travelers, the World Travel Market 2004-05 report
says tourists are returning to the skies in large numbers.

"We live in a new world," Dawid de Villiers, deputy secretary general of the
World Tourism Organization, said at the World Travel Market in London on
Monday.

"People have come to live with insecurity. Tourism will continue to grow,
barring any worldwide catastrophe."

De Villiers said the number of worldwide arrivals rose 12 percent to around
526 million in the first eight months of 2004, adding that he expects the
figure to remain in double digits for the entire year.

The report shows growth across the board -- instead of one region at the
expense of another -- for the first time since the September 11 attacks.

It was driven by greater numbers of U.S. travelers, a return in the
popularity of long-haul destinations and the easy booking of low-cost
flights over the Internet.

"What we are seeing is a resurgence globally," said Douglas Baker, a tourism
and finance spokesman for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"I think the trend is that travel has returned globally. I think 2005 and
2006 are positioned for growth."

Travelers are also unperturbed, so far, by the avian influenza scare in Asia
-- a contrast to the massive travel downturn in the region in 2003 that
resulted from the SARS outbreak.

A total of 28 people have died from the H5N1 strain of the avian influenza
virus, which ravaged poultry farms earlier this year, killing or forcing the
cull of about 100 million birds across Asia.

It appeared to have disappeared but resurfaced in Vietnam, killing three
people, in August and other cases have since been reported in Thailand and
Indonesia.

The report said that the Asia Pacific region, up 37 percent to 99 million
international arrivals, recorded the most impressive growth for 2004.

The Middle East was also a strong performer, up 24 percent to 23 million
international arrivals, due in large part to continued strong growth in
intra-regional tourism demand and the popularity of Egypt as a destination.

In Europe, travel to long-haul destinations, which fell by 9 percent from
January to August last year, grew by 12 percent during the same period this
year.

Not put off

The report also said outbound trips from the United States will rise by
around 8 percent in 2004 to 58.5 million. The total number of outbound trips
is expected to reach its previous 2000 peak of 60.9 million in 2007.

In return, Rhianna Quinn Roddy, a spokeswoman for NYC & Co., the private
tourism organization that promotes New York City, said she was confident
foreign travelers were returning to the city.

"We really believe that in 2005, 2006, 2007, we will beat that 2000 record
of 1.1 million visitors to New York City," Quinn Roddy said.

Baker dismissed suggestions that the U.S. requirement for biometric data on
all inbound travelers would put off visitors.

"The demand for visas to the United States hasn't decreased," he said.

However, the outlook was not so positive for airlines, which have been
battling rising costs because of a surge in the price of jet fuel.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents more than 250
airlines, has predicted that airline losses would exceed $4 billion in 2004.
Monday's report says that "could approach $5 billion."

The report said low-cost carriers have been less affected by the high fuel
prices because they tend to operate short-haul flights only.

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 16:58:05 +0100, Earl Evleth wrote:

2) The report also said outbound trips from the United States will rise by
around 8 percent in 2004 to 58.5 million. The total number of outbound trips
is expected to reach its previous 2000 peak of 60.9 million in 2007.

Rats leaving the sinking ship ?
--
Tim C.