World Tourism: Facts and Figures

Abstract

The World Tourism Organization aims to elaborate policies to enhance the harmonious development of tourism at national and international levels. Emphasis is given to assisting developing countries. Under its current programme, priority is given to facilitation, liberalization of trade, education and training and security and protection of tourists and tourist facilities. The latter involves, inter alia, sanitary and safety standards in tourist facilities and destinations, traveller health awareness, medical care and tourism insurance. WTO is keen to cooperate with the WHO and health experts to defend tourists against health problems and to see that such problems are not detrimental to the travel industry nor promoted by international tourism itself. Health problems may increase with the ever-larger number of travellers: tourism, measured in terms of tourist arrivals, hotel nights and receipts, is the fastest growing service industry, which continues to expand even in periods of economic slowdown. At world level, in 1987,61% of all tourists came from Europe and 16% from North America. International tourist flows may be indicative of transmission of infections and diseases.