A Huge Global Industry

Hundreds of millions of people make billions of trips each year, making travel one of the world's largest industries. This industry encompasses a broad range of businesses such as airlines, hotels, cruise lines, rail lines, car rentals but also travel agencies, tour operators and other travel suppliers that are part of a chain supply of products and services.

A continued growth in leisure travel industry. — According to the latest report* from the World Tourism Organization, the Leisure Travel Industry "grew by an estimated 7.4 per cent in 2000 — its highest growth rate in nearly a decade and almost double the increase of 1999."

International Tourist Arrivals, 1950-2020



Source: World Tourism Organization (WTO)

In 2000, the total number of international trips was 698 million - almost 50 million more than the previous year. The total number is expected to more than double, or reach 1.56 billion by 2020 (WTO 2020 Vision).

For more information, click here to download the WTO 2001Tourism Highlight report (Adobe Acrobat).