News
'Record year for tourism' in '07
22 November 2007
The year 2007 will be a record period for world travel, with nearly 900m people embarking on explorations around the globe, according to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).
As it convenes this week, the organisation said that there will be a 5.7% year-on-year increase in the number of tourists visiting foreign countries in 2007, AFP reports.
One of the strongest performers in the modern industry is China, with 49.6m foreign visitors in 2006 and a higher number expected this year. There are predictions that the Asian country could overtake some major worldwide markets in the coming years.
WTO secretary general Francesco Frangialli said: 'China has already passed Italy and this year or next it will pass the United States and will be ahead of Spain in two or three years.
'France has a little more breathing room but will probably be overtaken around 2015 rather than 2020.'
A similar trend is expected to emerge in the opposite direction, with 100m Chinese tourists expected to travel abroad in 2020, compared to 34m last year.
Opodo is a leading online travel company offering flights, hotels, rental cars and holidays worldwide. Search for travel deals.
© Adfero Ltd
As it convenes this week, the organisation said that there will be a 5.7% year-on-year increase in the number of tourists visiting foreign countries in 2007, AFP reports.
One of the strongest performers in the modern industry is China, with 49.6m foreign visitors in 2006 and a higher number expected this year. There are predictions that the Asian country could overtake some major worldwide markets in the coming years.
WTO secretary general Francesco Frangialli said: 'China has already passed Italy and this year or next it will pass the United States and will be ahead of Spain in two or three years.
'France has a little more breathing room but will probably be overtaken around 2015 rather than 2020.'
A similar trend is expected to emerge in the opposite direction, with 100m Chinese tourists expected to travel abroad in 2020, compared to 34m last year.
Opodo is a leading online travel company offering flights, hotels, rental cars and holidays worldwide. Search for travel deals.
© Adfero Ltd
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