The Facts

Developing countries are now the destinations of 17 percent of international tourists. Indicated in the map below are selected countries which received more than 300,000 visitors in 1982. The income categories in the table follow the World Bank’s classification.

Source: WTO Regional Statistics 1983

The graph shows international tourist expenditure for major Western countries. But as the table indicates, some of the smaller countries are spending more per head of population.

International tourism expenditure
(per head of population)

Geographical location, language and historical connections all play their part in directing Western tourists to Third World countries. Here we show the nationalities of visitors to some of the popular destinations in 1982.

The luxury hotel market around the world is dominated by American chains. This is the ranking of the largest corporations.

Corporations based in US unless stated.

Source: Hotels and Restaurants International.

The majority of international journeys in 1982 were for recreation rather than business.

The latest estimates for total world travel in 1983

	Arrivals		Receipts $m
AFRICA	6,700.000	2.3%	2,000	2.1%
East	1,200,000		435
Middle	160,000		65
North	4,150.000		1,175
South	390,000		47
West	800,000		278
AMERICAS	50,928,000	17.6%	23,261	24.2%
North	33,978,000		13,661
Central & S.	10,200,000		5,700
Caribbean	6,750,000		4,000
E. ASIA & PACIFIC	23,250,000	8.1%	9,300	9.7%
EUROPE	196,150,000	68.5%	57,000	59.2%
East	30,500,000		1,250
North	22,450,000		9,750
South	64,200,000		20,000
West	78,000,000		25,000
MIDDLE EAST	7,000,000	2.4%	3,300	3.4%
SOUTH ASIA	2,450,000	0.9%	1,250	1.3%
WORLD TOTALS	286,478,000	100.0%	96,211	100.0%

Source: WTO Regional Economic Statistics

World tourism has grown dramatically over the last 30 years. It slowed recently during the recession but started to pick up again in 1983/84.