OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018

OECD

• Publisher: OECD
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9789264287402
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

Part I. Active policies for tourism

Chapter 1. Tourism trends and policy priorities

This chapter covers recent trends in tourism and associated developments in tourism governance and policy. It is based on responses to a policy and statistical survey of OECD member countries and partner economies. The chapter outlines the economic importance of tourism and sets out the role of government in promotion and product development, and in supporting a competitive and sustainable tourism industry. The effectiveness of governance structures and funding issues are considered. Tourism policy priorities, reforms, and developments are analysed with examples of country practices highlighted.

The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.

Tourism is a highly important economic sector, making a significant contribution to the economies of OECD member and partner countries. Recent trends provide clear evidence of tourism’s continued growth and outreach. The 2017 OECD High Level Meeting on Tourism Policies for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth recognised tourism’s potential as a driver for sustainable development in OECD member and partner countries, when based upon sound policies and effective management. Governments are well placed to provide direction and support but it is increasingly recognised that this must be delivered in an integrated way, based on structures that involve the private sector and the many agencies and bodies, at all levels, whose activities can influence tourism performance and impacts.

Recent trends

Tourism is well recognised for playing a key role in global economic activity, job creation, and as a source of export revenue and domestic value added. On average, tourism directly contributes 4.2% of GDP, 6.9% of employment and 21.7% of services exports to OECD countries (Figure 1.1), all of which are stable or slightly higher than figures for 2014.

Figure 1.1. Direct contribution of tourism to OECD countries

As percentage of GDP and employment, 2016 or latest year available

Notes: GDP data for France refer to internal tourism consumption.

GDP data for Germany refer to GVA.

GDP for Greece refer to tourism GVA of industries 55-56 of NACE Rev. 2.

GDP data for Spain includes indirect effects.

Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database).

StatLink http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933639417

Globally, inbound tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) grew to over 1.2 billion in 2016, an increase of 46 million (3.9%) on the previous year. This figure is forecast to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, with international tourist arrivals in emerging economy destinations projected to grow at double the rate of advanced tourism economies. As a result, the market share of emerging tourism economies is expected to increase from 45% in 2016 to 57% over the same period. France, the United States, Spain and China continue to fill the top four places for inbound arrivals in 2016, while China, the United States and Germany are the highest outbound markets in their respective regions (UNWTO, 2017a).

OECD member countries continue to play a prominent role in international tourism, accounting for just over half (55%) of total global arrivals in 2016 (up from 54% in 2014). After increasing at a faster rate than global arrivals in 2014 (6.4% compared to 4.2% globally), the average growth in international arrivals for OECD members reduced to 3.9% in 2016 (compared to 3.9% globally and 4.7% for the EU28). Despite the OECD rolling four year average annual growth rate of 4.9% slightly exceeding the global average, the 2016 figure is more reflective of the longer-term trend of a slowdown in arrivals to the OECD relative to tourism worldwide, resulting in a loss of market share.

More specifically, 14 OECD countries recorded double digit annual growth in 2016, with four in excess of 20% – Chile (26%), Iceland (39%), Japan (21.8%), Korea (30.3%) – while Belgium, Latvia and Turkey all experienced retractions of more than 10%. International arrivals grew by 10% or more in eight OECD partner countries (Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Lithuania, Malta, Philippines, Romania, South Africa). A breakdown of international tourist arrivals to OECD member countries and selected partner economies is provided in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1. International tourist arrivals, 2012-16
	Type of indicator	2016	Average annual growth rate 2012 to 2016	Growth rate 2015 to 2016
		Thousand	%
Australia	Visitors	8 269	7.6	11.0
Austria	Tourists	28 121	3.9	5.2
Belgium	Tourists	5 557	-2.5	-13.7
Canada	Tourists	19 818	5.0	10.3
Chile	Tourists	5 641	12.2	26.0
Czech Republic	Tourists	12 808	6.1	10.2
Denmark	Tourists	10 781	6.0	3.4
Estonia	Tourists	3 147	3.5	5.3
Finland	Tourists	4 599	2.1	-5.3
France	Tourists	82 570	0.2	-2.2
Germany	Tourists	35 555	4.0	1.7
Greece	Visitors	28 071	13.4	7.5
Hungary	Tourists	13 474	11.9	8.6
Iceland	Tourists	1 792	27.8	39.0
Ireland	Tourists	8 425	8.7	8.8
Israel	Tourists	2 900	0.1	3.6
Italy	Tourists	32 552	2.1	7.3
Japan	Visitors	24 040	30.2	21.8
Korea	Visitors	17 242	11.5	30.3
Latvia	Tourists	1 793	5.7	-11.4
Luxembourg	Tourists	1 054	2.6	-3.5
Mexico	Tourists	35 079	10.6	9.3
Netherlands	Tourists	15 829	6.7	5.5
New Zealand	Tourists	3 370	8.0	10.9
Norway1	Tourists	5 960	6.5	12.4
Poland	Tourists	17 471	4.2	4.4
Portugal	Tourists	10 622	8.4	12.4
Slovak Republic	Tourists	2 027	7.3	17.8
Slovenia	Tourists	3 032	8.9	12.0
Spain	Tourists	75 315	7.0	10.5
Sweden2	Tourists	10 750	-6.8	-3.5
Switzerland3	Tourists	10 402	5.0	11.8
Turkey	Tourists	30 289	-4.0	-23.3
United Kingdom	Tourists	35 814	5.2	4.0
United States	Tourists	75 868	3.3	-2.1
Brazil	Tourists	6 578	3.8	4.3
Bulgaria	Tourists	8 252	6.0	16.2
Colombia	Visitors	5 092	9.9	14.5
Costa Rica	Tourists	2 925	5.7	10.0
Croatia	Tourists	13 809	7.4	8.9
Egypt	Tourists	5168	-17.5	-42.5
Lithuania	Tourists	2 296	4.9	10.8
Malta	Tourists	1 966	8.0	10.2
Morocco	Tourists	10 332	2.5	1.5
Peru	Tourists	3 744	7.1	8.4
Philippines	Tourists	5 967	8.7	11.3
Romania	Tourists	2 471	10.6	10.6
Russian Federation4	Tourists	24 571	-1.7	-8.5
South Africa	Tourists	10 044	2.3	12.8
EU28			4...

Table of contents

• Title page
• Legal and rights
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Policy statement – tourism policies for sustainable and inclusive growth
• Reader’s guide
• Executive summary
• Part I. Active policies for tourism
• Part II. OECD country profiles
• Part III. Partner country profiles
• About the OECD