WTO: international tourism increased only by 2% in 2008

World Tourism Organization (WTO) announced that the effects of the global financial crisis have tempered the international tourism increase by 2% in 2008, while for 2009 predict the rate will most likely maintain.

Geoffrey Lipman, General Secretary of the WTO, stated that tourism industry faces one of the most serious collapses in the history, following the growth rates registered the past 4 years.

Globally, in 2007 there were registered 903 mil. tourists, 6.6% higher than in 2006.

WTO keeps the forecasts on long term, estimating the number of tourists will grow to 1.6 bn. in 2020.

In the first eight months of 2008, the tourism market registered an average growth by 3.7% but the market conditions is expected to worsen, according to WTO.

Sursa: Money Channel [24.11.2008], Ziare.com [23.11.2008]