MADRID — International travel arrivals were up 6% last year, for a total of 1.4 billion, says the UNWTO.

UNWTO’s long-term World Tourism Barometer forecast issued in 2010 indicated the 1.4 billion mark would be reached in 2020, yet the growth of international arrivals in recent years has brought it two years ahead.

UNWTO estimates that worldwide international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased 6% to 1.4 billion in 2018.

The Middle East (+10%), Africa (+7%), Asia and the Pacific and Europe (both at +6%) led growth in 2018.

Arrivals to the Americas were below the world average (+3%).

“The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is today one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth and development,” says said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “It is our responsibility to manage it in a sustainable manner and translate this expansion into real benefits for all countries, and particularly, to all local communities, creating opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship and leaving no one behind.”

International tourist arrivals in Europe reached 713 million in 2018, a 6% increase over a strong 2017. Growth was driven by Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+7%), Central and Eastern Europe (+6%) and Western Europe (+6%). Results in Northern Europe were flat due to the weakness of arrivals to the U.K.

Asia and the Pacific (+6%) recorded 343 million international tourist arrivals in 2018. Arrivals in South-East Asia grew 7%, followed by North-East Asia (+6%) and South Asia (+5%). Oceania showed more moderate growth at +3%.

The Americas (+3%) welcomed 217 million international arrivals in 2018, with mixed results across destinations, says the UNWTO. Growth was led by North America (+4%), and followed by South America (+3%), while Central America and the Caribbean (both -2%) reached mixed results, the latter reflecting the impact of the September 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Data from Africa points to a 7% increase in 2018 (North Africa at +10% and Sub-Saharan +6%), reaching an estimated 67 million arrivals.

The Middle East (+10%) showed solid results last year consolidating its 2017 recovery, with international tourist arrivals reaching 64 million.

Based on current trends, economic prospects and the UNWTO Confidence Index, UNWTO says international arrivals will likely grow 3% to 4% in 2020.

The UNWTO’s latest report says that as a general backdrop, the stability of fuel prices “tends to translate into affordable air travel while air connectivity continues to improve in many destinations, facilitating the diversification of source markets.”

At the same time, the global economic slowdown, the uncertainty related to the Brexit, as well as geopolitical and trade tensions may prompt a “wait and see” attitude among investors and travellers.

Meanwhile travel trends will consolidate into the quest for ‘travel to change and to show’, the pursuit of healthy options such as walking, wellness and sports tourism, multigenerational travel as a result of demographic changes and more responsible travel.

“Digitalization, new business models, more affordable travel and societal changes are expected to continue shaping our sector, so both destination and companies need to adapt if they want to remain competitive,” said Pololikashvili.