As in previous years international tourism continues to grow in 2019, though not quite as strongly as before. During the first eight months of this year, outbound trips increased worldwide by 3.9 percent, one percentage point below 2018. This year, Asia again recorded the highest growth in international travel, while Latin America saw a decline. Overall, the trend analyses indicate outbound travel will continue to grow also in 2020.

Outbound trips by Asians driving global growth
At six percent, Asia reported the world’s highest tourism growth during the first eight months of this year, as it did in 2018. China, by far the continent’s largest source market, contributed to this upward trend with an above-average growth of nine percent.
During the first eight months foreign trips by North Americans rose slightly above average, at 4.5 per cent. Foreign travel by Europeans increased too, although at 2.5 per cent they ranked well behind Asia and North America – and below last year’s figure. In contrast, during the first eight months foreign trips by Latin Americans reflected a negative trend with a year-on-year decline of three per cent.

Asia also a popular travel destination
Interest in Asia as a travel destination likewise shows an upward tourism trend. With a six percent increase in visitors during the first eight months, it recorded higher growth than any other region in the world. Trips to Europe are popular too, with a global visitor growth by 3.5 percent, whereas trips to America only rose by two percent.

Further increase in holiday trips
During the first eight months of 2019, holiday trips increased globally by four per cent, while business travel stagnated. However, this reflects two divergent trends. On the one hand there is the still-expanding MICE travel market, which during the first eight months grew by two per cent, and in contrast the traditional business travel, which shrank by four per cent over the same period.

City breaks are booming again – increase in cruises
After moderate increases last year, city breaks came back with strong growth with eight pe cent during the first eight months of 2019.
With a global market share of close to 30 percent now, city breaks rank only slightly behind sun and beach holidays, which recorded a two percent rise during the first eight months. As well as round trips, which increased by three percent, the cruise market expanded too. Compared with last year its growth by six percent and therefore above average.

Safety image of travel destinations
Asked about the terror threat of individual destinations, the majority of global outbound travellers still rank destinations like Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia as particularly unsafe. The possibility of terror in these countries is seen as very high. With regard to safety, the USA, Mexico, South Africa and France also have a poor image. In contrast, travel destinations like, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Portugal as well as Australia and Canada are perceived as safe, where the terror threat is seen as low, according to the latest findings from September of this year.

Positive outlook for 2020
Despite political and economic instability around the world, the data on travel intentions points to a positive outlook for next year: For the global outbound travel market IPK forecasts for 2020 a plus of four per cent.
Outbound trips by Asians are expected to record the highest growth with five per cent. For the European outbound trips a growth rate of three to four per cent will be expected and for the Americans of three per cent.