INTERNATIONAL tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 per cent to 980 million in 2011, up from 939 million the year before, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Tourist arrivals to Europe reached 503 million (+6.0 per cent) in 2011, accounting for 28 million of the 41 million additional international arrivals recorded worldwide. Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Southern Mediterranean destinations (+8.0 per cent each) recorded the best results.

Arrivals to Asia-Pacific (+6.0 per cent) were up by 11 million in 2011, reaching a total 216 million international tourists. South Asia and South-east Asia (both +9.0 per cent) benefited from strong intraregional demand, while growth was comparatively weaker in North-east Asia (+4.0 per cent) and Oceania (+0.3 per cent), partly due to the temporary decline in the Japanese outbound market.

Among the top ten tourist destinations, receipts were up significantly in the US (+12 per cent), Spain (+9.0 per cent), Hong Kong (+25 per cent) and the UK (+7.0 per cent).

The top spenders were led by emerging source markets – China (+38 per cent), Russia (+21 per cent), Brazil (+32 per cent) and India (+32 per cent) – followed by traditional markets, with the growth in expenditure of travellers from Germany (+4.0 per cent) and the US (+5.0 per cent) above the levels of previous years.

UNWTO forecasts international tourism to continue growing in 2012, although at a slower rate. Arrivals are expected to increase by three to four per cent, reaching the one billion mark by year-end.

MORE females and young professionals in Singapore are travelling for leisure, according to a recent survey by Insight Vacations of about 5,000 of its Singapore-based customers.

The findings revealed that 58 per cent of the customers polled were females as compared to 42 per cent males.

The age group of 43-65 years (baby boomers) constituted 48 per cent of total travellers. The next largest group was young professionals aged 21-42 years, which including honeymooners, have been Insight Vacation’s fastest growing clientele base in recent years.

The findings also revealed that 66 per cent of the total travelled with their spouses, 12 per cent travelled with relatives, 14 per cent with friends, and only eight per cent travelled alone.

In choosing the tours, Singapore travellers paid attention to the places visited (40 per cent). Hassle-free tours ranked high on their list of choices – 38 per cent, while the price/value of the tour is also important (36 per cent).

Singapore travellers are also particular about the hotels they stay in (30 per cent), while the reputation of the travel agency is also an important factor for making the choice (29 per cent).