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Global tourism continues recovery from crisis year of 2009, exceeding $1 trillion for first time last year.

Thumbs up to Thai tourism

UN names it 11th most popular destination
10/05/2012
Boonsong Kositchotethana
Deputy Editor Business

Thailand last year moved up one place to 11th in the ranks of the world's top destinations by international tourism receipts, according to statistics compiled by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The country was also among five global destinations whose international tourism receipts in 2011 grew by US$5 billion or more in absolute terms, with income rising by $6.2 billion to a record $26.3 billion.

The UNWTO figures underscore Thailand's position on the world tourism map and the growing importance of tourism and travel to the country.

Notably, Thailand's 2011 receipts and ranking surpassed two main competitors in Southeast Asia - Malaysia and Singapore.

Malaysia's receipts were surprisingly stagnant from 2010 at $18.3 billion, while its ranking remained unchanged at 14th, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Singapore fared better with receipts of $18 billion, up from $14.1 billion a year earlier.

This raised the island republic to 15th from 18th.

Thailand's Tourism Ministry said international arrivals last year leaped by 19.8% to 19.1 million.

Other destinations where international tourism receipts grew by $5 billion or more were the US, Spain, France and Hong Kong.

Furthermore, significant rises from a lower base were reported by Singapore, Russia, Sweden, India, South Korea and Turkey.

The world's overall international tourism receipts exceeded $1 trillion for the first time last year, up from $928 billion in 2010, the UNWTO said.

In real terms, receipts rose by 3.8% on a 4.6% increase in global tourist arrivals.

An additional $196 billion in receipts from international passenger transport brought total exports generated by international tourism to $1.2 trillion last year.

Tourism continued to recover its losses from the crisis year of 2009 and hit new records in most destinations, with international tourist arrivals rising by 4.6% to 982 million.

UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai called the results encouraging. The past two years have shown healthy demand for tourism out of many markets, though the economic recovery has been uneven.

By region, the Americas recorded the largest increase in receipts in 2011 with 5.7%, followed by Europe (+5.2%), Asia and the Pacific (+4.3%) and Africa (+2.2%). The Middle East was the only region posting a decline, down 14%.

Europe holds the largest share of global tourism receipts in absolute numbers (45%), reaching $463 billion last year.

It was followed by Asia and the Pacific (28%), the Americas (19%), the Middle East (4%) and Africa (3%). 

(Source: Bangkok Post, Tourism, Thumbs up to Thai tourism, UN names it 11th most popular destination, 10/05/2012, Boonsong Kositchotethana, Deputy Editor Business, link) 

Global Tourism Industry Vocabulary

UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - "a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information on international tourism. This organization represents public sector tourism bodies, from most countries in the world and the publication of its data makes possible comparisons of the flow and growth of tourism on a global scale" (See Wikipedia)

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer - a publication from UNWTO produced three times per year that includes world tourism rankings (See Wikipedia)

barometer - 1. some measure, index or statistic that shows how a situation is changing or how people think about some issue; 2. a piece of equipment that shows how the weather is changing (See Wikipedia)

thumbs up - sticking your thumb up in the air (making a sign of approval meaning: "that is good")

thumbs up to Thai tourism

destination - the place where a passenger or goods are going, taking a trip to this place  ปลายทาง   จุดหมายปลายทาง
popular - many people like it
popular destination - a tourism place that many people like
top destinations - one of the places most liked by tourists
world's top destinations

UN names it 11th most popular destination

receipts - money received
tourism receipts - money received from tourism

international - between countries ระหว่างประเทศ
international tourism receipts

international arrivals

transport - to move people or things from one place to another ขนส่ง
international passenger transport

ranks - a group (organized in order by rank)
the ranks of the world's top destinations
ranks of the world's top destinations by international tourism receipts

moved up one place to 11th in the ranks of the world's top destinations

statistics - facts about something, described by counting them สถิติ
statistics compiled - statistics gathered together and published

Thailand last year moved up one place to 11th in the ranks of the world's top destinations by international tourism receipts, according to statistics compiled by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

global - throughout the world ทั่วโลก
global destinations

absolute - complete ทั้งสิ้น โดยสิ้นเชิง
in absolute terms - not real terms (without effect of inflation removed)
real terms - with the effect of rising prices (inflation) removed
grew by US$5 billion or more in absolute terms

income - money that people receive from work or some other source, used for household consumption and savings
record - the best or most ever achieved สถิติ

The country was also among five global destinations whose international tourism receipts in 2011 grew by US$5 billion or more in absolute terms, with income rising by $6.2 billion to a record $26.3 billion.

figures - statistics, numbers describing the economy
underscore - to emphasise something or to show that it is important เน้นย้ำ
surpassed - pass and go beyond
stagnant - very slow, not moving or growing 

The UNWTO figures underscore Thailand's position on the world tourism map and the growing importance of tourism and travel to the country. Notably, Thailand's 2011 receipts and ranking surpassed two main competitors in Southeast Asia - Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia's receipts were surprisingly stagnant from 2010 at $18.3 billion, while its ranking remained unchanged at 14th, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

fared - come through a situation; was successful / unsuccessful in a particular situation
fared better - did better (this time, compared to last time)
the island republic - meaning: Singapore
leaped by 19.8% - increased by a large amount quickly (like leaping or jumping)
significant - important สำคัญ
significant rises from a lower base - meaning: a large percentage increase from a small amount
generated - created
total exports generated by international tourism

Singapore fared better with receipts of $18 billion, up from $14.1 billion a year earlier. This raised the island republic to 15th from 18th. Thailand's Tourism Ministry said international arrivals last year leaped by 19.8% to 19.1 million. Other destinations where international tourism receipts grew by $5 billion or more were the US, Spain, France and Hong Kong. Furthermore, significant rises from a lower base were reported by Singapore, Russia, Sweden, India, South Korea and Turkey. The world's overall international tourism receipts exceeded $1 trillion for the first time last year, up from $928 billion in 2010, the UNWTO said. In real terms, receipts rose by 3.8% on a 4.6% increase in global tourist arrivals. An additional $196 billion in receipts from international passenger transport brought total exports generated by international tourism to $1.2 trillion last year.

crisis - an urgent, difficult or dangerous situation วิกฤตการณ์ วิกฤต
crisis year of 2009

results - what is produced in the end by an activity or task
demand - the need and desire to buy goods and services by households and businesses
recovery - when the economy improves, gets better and starts growing again after a downturn or recession (more jobs, higher incomes) การฟื้นฟูสภาพ
recover - when the situation improves get better to become healthy and fit again after an illness or injury การฟื้นไข้
share - to have or use something at the same time as someone else ใช้ร่วมกัน

Tourism continued to recover its losses from the crisis year of 2009 and hit new records in most destinations, with international tourist arrivals rising by 4.6% to 982 million. UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai called the results encouraging. The past two years have shown healthy demand for tourism out of many markets, though the economic recovery has been uneven.

share - the percent of the whole thing that you have
the largest share of global tourism receipts
in absolute numbers
the largest share of global tourism receipts in absolute numbers

By region, the Americas recorded the largest increase in receipts in 2011 with 5.7%, followed by Europe (+5.2%), Asia and the Pacific (+4.3%) and Africa (+2.2%). The Middle East was the only region posting a decline, down 14%. Europe holds the largest share of global tourism receipts in absolute numbers (45%), reaching $463 billion last year. It was followed by Asia and the Pacific (28%), the Americas (19%), the Middle East (4%) and Africa (3%). 

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