Global demand outstrips forecasts for first half of 2013 (+5%). - Destinations around the world welcomed an estimated 494 million overnight visitors in the first six months of 2013, according to the estimates of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the latest “UNWTO World Tourism Barometer”, released on the occasion of the organisation's General Assembly (24-29 August). This translates into growth levels higher than the forecasts announced by the UNWTO in January. The figure represents an increase of 5%, or 25 million tourists more than the same period in 2012. Growth was higher in destinations in the emerging countries (+6%) than in the advanced economies (+4%), a tendency observed in the sector over the last several years. “The fact that international tourism grew above expectations confirms that travelling is now part of consumer patterns for an increasing number of people in both emerging and advanced economies”, said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai. Although the global economic environment remains uneven, all regions and sub-regions have shown positive results, but to differing degrees. Against all expectations, Europe performed better than predicted, with an increase of 5% in tourist arrivals, driven by the figures of Central and Eastern Europe, southern Europe and the Mediterranean. The Asia-Pacific region (+6%) also outstripped expectations, thanks to good performances from south-east Asia and southern Asia. On the other hand, the results were not as good as anticipated in the Americas (+2%). In greater detail: - Europe: the number of international tourists grew by 5% despite ongoing economic problems. The growth was led by Central and Eastern Europe (+10%), southern Europe and the Mediterranean (+6%); - Asia-Pacific: at +6%, the sustained growth in the region was driven by the increase in numbers of tourists arriving in Southeast Asia (+12%), a sub-region which has maintained its exceptional performance seen over recent years, and southern Asia; - Americas: at +2% in the first half of the year, the region experienced relatively mediocre growth compared to the sharp growth of previous years. Central America (+4%) performed better than the regional average, whilst the growth curve of tourists remained flat in the Caribbean and South America; - Africa: with +4% recorded in the first half of the year, the movement of growth over recent years has been maintained due to the recovery of North Africa (+4%) and good results for sub-Saharan destinations (+4%); - Middle East: this region has recovered well after two years of negative growth, with an increase in international tourists which has been estimated at 13%. However, these results should be approached with caution, as growth appears uneven between destinations and because this estimate is based on data which are still limited. The report goes on to note that it is tourists from the emerging countries who have caused the figures to rise. Of the 10 largest source markets of the world, China (+31%) and Russia (+22%) particularly dominated the increase in tourist expenditure in the first six months of 2013. Outside the top 10, Brazil has returned to the forefront with growth of 15%, following a more moderate 2012. However, the increase in money spent by the traditional markets was more modest. Canada (+3%) and France (+2%) led the group, followed by the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, which saw their levels unchanged, then Japan, Australia and Italy, which achieved negative results. The first half of the year usually absorbs some 45% of the total number of visitors in a year, as the high season in the northern hemisphere corresponds to the months of July and August, which are in the second half of the year. Growth is therefore likely to continue in the second half of 2013, but at a slightly slower pace. The UNWTO predicts that 2013 will end overall on an increase of 4% or slightly above, in other words a better result than the initial estimate for the year, which forecast growth of between 3% and 4%. (IL/transl.fl)