Iberoamerica receives 15% of worldwide tourist arrivals, which in 2005 generated 90 billion US dollars (73 billion euros) in receipts. Tourism thus constitutes an important instrument for the promotion of…
Iberoamerica receives 15% of worldwide tourist arrivals, which in 2005 generated 90 billion US dollars (73 billion euros) in receipts. Tourism thus constitutes an important instrument for the promotion of development in Iberoamerica, as underlined by the publication Tourism in Iberoamerica, jointly produced by the UNWTO and the Iberoamerican General Secretariat (SEGIB).
Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic activities at the international level. For the 22 Iberoamerican countries, revenues from international tourism and passenger transport account for more than 10% of total exports of goods and services and represent 3% of Gross Domestic Product, according to the UNWTO.
Iberoamerica received 122 million international tourist arrivals in 2005 (15% of the world total of 806 million), generating 90 billion US dollars (73 billion euros), equivalent to 13% of worldwide receipts (682 billion dollars).
While a large part of this tourism is concentrated in Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Mexico, there has been a notable dynamism in the Latin American region over the past fifteen years, During this period, destinations in Central America (+9%), and South America (+6%) enjoyed growth rates considerably higher than that of world tourism as a whole (+4.1%).
The challenge that lies ahead consists of knowing how to utilize the current momentum in order to achieve greater development, as pointed out in Tourism in Iberoamerica. The UNWTO forecasts that this growth trend will continue and that arrivals will top 200 million by 2020. Especially fast growth is expected in Iberoamerican destinations in South America, followed by those in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
The growth of comparatively emerging destinations will complement the diversification of relatively more established destinations, thus boosting tourism`s role as a tool for the economic and social development of the Iberoamerican community.
Tourism in Iberoamerica was prepared within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the UNWTO and SEGIB and highlights the importance and potential of Iberoamerica in the field of tourism. Over the next several years, we will witness the definitive awakening of this economic and tourism giant that has begun to mobilize itself to contribute to the generation of value and the fight against poverty, as the publication points out.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
