International tourism numbers this year are unlikely to be "substantially" affected by the unrest in parts of the Middle East, despite a 14 per cent drop in the region's arrivals in the first four months of the year, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The travel and tourism body is predicting growth of between 4 and 5 per cent in international arrivals this year compared with last year, as the global industry continues its rebound after the sector was battered by the global economic crisis.
"The impact of developments in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, are not expected to substantially affect this overall forecast," the UNWTO said in its latest annual report. It added it "expects that destinations currently facing difficulties will see demand recover towards the end of the year".
Along with the decline in the Middle East, there was an 11 per cent decline in tourism in North Africa, while all other world regions experienced growth in the first four months of the year compared with the same period last year, the UNWTO's latest figures showed. This resulted in 4.5 per cent growth in tourism arrivals globally.
The report also highlighted China was rapidly becoming a bigger player in the global tourism industry, with the Chinese last year overtaking the UK to become the third-biggest international tourism spenders. The Chinese travellers spent US$55 billion (Dh202bn), behind Germany and the US, respectively. Spending by Russians was up 27 per cent last year, following a 12 per cent drop in 2009. The UK, meanwhile, was the only market in the top 10 to show a decline in tourism expenditure, with a 2 per cent fall because of its weak economy, the UNWTO said.
International tourism arrivals last year increased by 6.6 per cent from the previous year to 940 million.
"The increase more than offset the decline caused by the economic downturn, with an additional 23 million arrivals over the former peak year of 2008." International tourism receipts reached $919bn worldwide last year, up from $851bn in 2009. Spending is still down from the 2008 peaks of $939bn, however.
The UNWTO highlighted tourism as "a key driver of socio-economic progress through the creation of jobs and enterprises, infrastructure development and the export revenues earned". It said tourism's contribution to worldwide GDP was about 5 per cent and the industry indirectly and directly created an estimated 6 to 7 per cent of all jobs globally.
The Middle East was the fastest-growing region last year in terms of tourism arrivals, with a 14 per cent increase, following a 4 per cent decline the previous year.
Last year, most destinations in the region reported double-digit growth, including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, the organisation said.
This year, however, the story has been quite different. Those countries have reported sharp declines in tourism because of unrest in parts of the region.
Travel flows have been diverted and hoteliers in stable destinations, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, reported increased guest numbers.
Last year, 51 per cent of people travelled for leisure, the report showed. Another 27 per cent travelled for purposes including religious trips. Fifteen per cent were business travellers.
rbundhun@thenational.ae
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Barbie
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Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
Stage three:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-43
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
4. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
5. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
6. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) UAE-Team Emirates, at 24s
General Classification:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-13-02
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin Fenix, at 12s
4. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
6. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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