Switzerland is most competitive economy in world in tourist sector - The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum analyses 140 countries and contains more than 75 different indicators. It confirms Switzerland as the most competitive country in the world in the tourism sector in 2012. Germany confirms its position in second place, followed by Austria in third place (fourth place last year), Spain in fourth place (eight place last year) and the United Kingdom in fifth position (seventh place last year). Two significant falls appear in the “Top 10”, that of France (which fell from third to seventh place) and Switzerland (which fell from fifth to ninth place). The report underlines the potential of the travel and tourism sector as a means to relaunch economic resilience and create jobs. Nonetheless, the report also warns that environmental sustainability will remain a major concern. It notes that among developed countries, New Zealand and Japan have significantly improved their positions and the former has gone from 19th to 12th place and the latter has risen eight places to finish up in 14th position. Emerging economies have had rather mixed progress, India and Brazil are the only BRICS countries to improve their positions in this rating. In this category, Panama is proving to be a choice destination and has risen from 56th place to 37th position and the Philippines have risen from 94th place to 82nd position, thanks to political measures promoting the sector overall. (IL/trans/fl)