After the worst losses in recent history due to the worldwide economic and financial crisis in 2009, the world’s travel industry is back on course for success, much faster than expected and defying the predictions of international industry analysts.
Rolf Freitag, President of the consultancy, IPK International, said: "The world’s international travel industry is back and now even more dynamic, and this year has underlined its role as one of the mainstays of the global economy." According to Freitag, Asia in particular is driving international growth.
According to IPK, in 2010 year-on-year worldwide growth in domestic tourism will reach 5%, in international tourism 7%, while growth in international arrivals will be in the order of 6-7%, a new all-time record. However, around the world growth rates vary. In South America growth is currently at 13%, in Asia, Oceania and the Middle East at 12%, and in Africa growth in domestic and international flights is at 7%. By contrast the markets in North America and Europe have lagged behind, and figures have yet to reach pre-recession levels. For Europe the year-on-year growth figure is 3%, while for North America it is only 1%.
The hotel industry has a long way to go before making a similar recovery. Said Freitag: "We have yet to see a recovery from 2009 that saw year-on-year growth drop by 7%. Compared with last year growth has now reached 5% but travellers are booking shorter stays." Travellers’ spending behaviour was similarly restrained, he added.
According to IPK, in 2010 Germany’s market share will reach 10% and 72.6 million trips, confirming it as the world’s most-travelled nation. The US ranks second, with a market share of 9% and 64 million trips, followed by the UK and France in third and fourth places.
"Against the backdrop of the global recession, the dynamism with which the world’s travel industry has recovered from last year’s slump is quite remarkable and encouraging. We are confident that the markets in Europe and North America will move in a positive direction too, and that when ITB Berlin takes place in March next year they will be able to report promising developments,” said Dr Martin Buck, Director, Competence Centre Travel and Logistics, Messe Berlin.
