Global tourism in 2019 will grow 3 to 4 per cent but Brexit uncertainty and escalating trade tensions will weigh on the travel outlook, UNWTO says.
Global tourism in 2019 will grow 3 to 4 per cent but Brexit uncertainty and escalating trade tensions will weigh on the travel outlook, UNWTO says.

World tourist numbers hit 1.4 billion in 2018, two years ahead of forecast



The annual number of tourists crossing international borders in 2018 accelerated to levels forecast for 2020, but this year's outlook is clouded by Brexit and trade tensions, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation said.

International tourist arrivals increased 6 per cent to 1.4 billion last year led by growth in the Middle East and Africa, the UN body said in its latest report. Affordable air fares, stronger global economic growth and liberalised visa regulations helped boost growth to levels the UNWTO did not expect until 2020.

“The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is today one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth and development,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO secretary general.

A 10-year forecast by the UNWTO in 2010 estimated that global tourist arrivals would reach the 1.4 billion mark by 2020. However, the world tourism industry hit that mark two years earlier – in 2018. Global passenger traffic last year grew 6.5 per cent to 4.34 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association.

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Tourist arrivals to the Middle East grew above the global average of 6 per cent, with the region recording a 10 per cent rise from the year before to 64 million overnight visitors in 2018.

“The Middle East showed solid results last year, consolidating its 2017 recovery,” the UNWTO report said.

Africa recorded a 7 per cent increase in tourist arrivals last year with 67 million visitors to the continent.

Asia-Pacific and Europe posted 6 per cent increases in 2018, while the Americas grew below the world average at 3 per cent, the UNWTO said.

The Americas showed mixed results where North America led the region with growth of 4 per cent, followed by South America at 3 per cent while Central America and the Caribbean declined by 2 per cent. The drop in tourist arrivals to the Caribbean reflected the effect of the September 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.

In 2019, international tourist arrivals is forecast to grow 3 to 4 per cent in line with historic growth trends, said the report.

However, the global economic slowdown, uncertainty related to Britain leaving the European Union, as well as geopolitical and trade tensions will result in a “wait and see” approach to travel this year, said UNWTO.

The International Monetary Fund lowered its global growth forecast for 2019 and warned of the dangers from escalating trade tensions that have already started to dampen the world economic outlook.

The global economy is set to grow 3.5 per cent in 2019 from 3.7 per cent in 2018, the IMF said in a report this week.

Trends for 2019 point to strong outbound travel from emerging markets, especially India and Russia, but also from smaller Asian and Arab source markets, the UNWTO report said.

Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
  • The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

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ESSENTIALS

The flights 

Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes. 

Where to stay 

The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.

Spare

Profile

Company name: Spare

Started: March 2018

Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah

Based: UAE

Sector: FinTech

Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019

The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT

Price, base / as tested Dh460,000

Engine 8.4L V10

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km

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