WTO News/ 2nd quarter 2000

European Forecast

European Tourism to Nearly Double in Next 20 Years

International arrivals to Europe are forecast to grow from 392 million last year to 717 million by the year 2020--an average annual growth rate of about 3 per cent a year. Europe will remain the world´s number one destination and the world´s top generating market, according to the soon-to-be-published WTO study Tourism: 2020 Vision Europe.

"A strong trend towards more frequent international holidays will drive this staggering tourism growth," said WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli. "These new trips will be taking place outside the traditional European holiday season and will add stability to the tourism industry."

Strong growth in tourism to the Russian Federation, the Czech Republic and other countries of Central/Eastern Europe will make it the top tourism region of the continent. By the year 2020, nearly one in every three visitors to Europe will choose a Central or Eastern European destination. Arrivals to Central/Eastern Europe are predicted to grow by an average 4.6 per cent annually, increasing to 223 million arrivals 2020, compared to 185 million in Western Europe and 177 million in Southern Europe.