Tourism is considered a key industry of the 21st century. If direct and indirect indicators are taken into account, its share in Europe ranges from 1/5 to 1/6 of the total GDP. According to the statistics of the International Monetary Fund, the tourism industry had already taken the lead among exporting industries from automakers back in 1998. From 1995 to 2020, the number of trips worldwide will triple. This forecast was made by the World Tourism Organization.
But the growth itself follows a different scenario than in the past decade. In the late 90s, the industry was able to respond in time to the trend of a general increase in population mobility against the backdrop of individualization of lifestyle and client wishes, note researchers from the Hamburg Institute for Future Studies. The symbol of successful transformation was the metallurgical concern Preussag, whose main product was rolled metal. In 2002, it became a travel company TUI: from iron and steel to beach sand and sun. Today TUI is the largest tourism concern in the world – its turnover last year amounted to 19.2 billion euros. The transformation from a heavy industry giant to a leader in the leisure and travel market now serves as a symbol of the transition from an industrial to an information society.
The shock caused by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the bombings on the island of Bali, and the general fear of new attacks immediately and directly affected the state of affairs in the tourism business. The epidemic of atypical pneumonia in Asia also made its negative contribution.
The World Tourism Organization, whose headquarters is in Madrid, publishes the so-called world barometer - World Tourism Barometer - three times a year. It is based on a survey of 230 experts in a hundred countries around the world. The latest data for June confirm a growth trend that began last year and resulted from improved global economic conditions. Fears and risks associated with terrorist activity have not yet been able to impede the positive development of the situation this time. While in 2002 the industry turnover was $474 billion, in 2003 it was already $514 billion. Europe accounts for more than half of this amount - 54.8%. In second place is America (22.5%), in third place is the Asia-Pacific region (17.2%). The influence of geopolitical factors has become noticeable. The average duration of trips is decreasing, closer destinations are gaining popularity, while the number of long-distance trips, on the contrary, is falling.
The top list of popular destinations has been led by the USA, Spain, France and Italy for many years. They are followed by China, Great Britain, Austria, Mexico, Germany and Canada. The June barometer data did not change anything in this list.
The World Tourism Organization forecasts sustainable growth of the industry. If in 2003 there were 700 million tourist trips abroad (including 400 million long-distance trips), then by 2020 this figure could reach 1.6 billion. The largest growth is observed in East Asia, but Europe and America also continue to remain among popular destinations.