OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2016

OECD

• Publisher: OECD
• Year: 2016
• eBook ISBN: 9789264253209
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

Part I. Active policies for tourism

Chapter 1. Tourism trends and policy priorities1

This chapter covers recent trends in tourism and associated developments in government 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 and examples of country practices highlighted.

Tourism is an important economic sector in countries around the world and governments are developing active and innovative policies to build a competitive, inclusive and sustainable tourism development. Many countries consider an integrated whole of government approach to tourism as an essential component of a supportive government framework. These integrated strategies increase the policy coherence and the effectiveness of public and public/private actions in tourism. Governments at all levels have an important role to play in the delivery of the tourism product, and they need to work in close partnership with the private sector.

Recent trends

Tourism is playing a key role in global economic activity, job creation, export revenue and domestic value added. On average, tourism directly contributes 4.1% of GDP, 5.9% of employment and 21.3% of service exports to OECD economies (Figure 1.1). It is also estimated that around 80% of the tourism exports convert into domestic value added, which is higher than the average for the total economy.

Figure 1.1. Direct contribution of tourism to OECD countries

As percentage of GDP and employment, 2014 or latest year available

Notes: Data for Spain include indirect impacts.

GDP data for France refer to internal tourism consumption.

Employment data for Luxembourg include indirect impacts.

Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database).

StatLink http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933319595

Globally, international tourist arrivals surpassed 1.1 billion in 2014, an increase of 4.2% on the previous year, having topped the 1 billion mark in 2012. This number 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 that in advanced tourism economies (UNWTO, 2015).

OECD member countries play a prominent role in international tourism. International arrivals to OECD member countries accounted for 54% of global arrivals in 2014 (compared to 57% in 2012). Arrivals to the OECD increased at a faster rate than global arrivals, rising by 6.4% on average in 2014. This is substantially ahead of the 3.6% growth in arrivals to the OECD recorded in 2012. Five OECD countries recorded annual growth in excess of 20% in 2014 – Denmark (21.4%), Greece (23.0%), Iceland (23.6%), Japan (29.4%) and Mexico (21.5%). A breakdown of international tourist arrivals is provided in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1. International tourist arrivals, 2010-14
	Type of indicator	2014	Average annual growth rate 2010 to 2014	Growth rate 2013 to 2014
		Thousand	%
Australia	Visitors	6 868	4.4	7.6
Austria	Tourists	25 291	3.5	1.9
Belgium	Tourists	6 389	2.6	2.6
Canada	Tourists	16 537	0.5	3.0
Chile	Tourists	3 674	7.0	2.7
Czech Republic	Tourists	10 709	5.5	4.0
Denmark	Tourists	10 267	5.6	21.4
Estonia	Tourists	2 918	5.3	1.6
Finland1	Tourists	4 085	2.7	-3.3
France	Tourists	83 767	2.2	0.2
Germany	Tourists	32 999	5.3	4.6
Greece	Visitors	22 033	10.1	23.0
Hungary	Tourists	10 158	5.6	12.4
Iceland	Tourists	998	19.5	23.6
Ireland	Tourists	6 824	4.6	6.7
Israel	Tourists	2 927	1.1	-1.2
Italy	Tourists	29 118	-0.4	0.2
Japan	Visitors	13 413	11.7	29.4
Korea	Visitors	14 202	12.7	16.6
Luxembourg	Tourists	1 038	6.6	9.8
Mexico	Tourists	29 346	5.9	21.5
Netherlands	Tourists	13 925	6.4	8.9
New Zealand	Tourists	2 772	3.1	5.4
Norway	..	..	..	..
Poland	Tourists	16 000	6.4	1.3
Portugal	Tourists	9 277	8.0	11.8
Slovak Republic	Tourists	1 475	2.7	-11.7
Slovenia	Tourists	2 411	6.6	6.7
Spain	Tourists	64 995	5.4	7.1
Sweden2	Tourists	10 750	-1.8	-3.5
Switzerland	Tourists	9 158	1.5	2.1
Turkey	Tourists	39 811	6.1	5.3
United Kingdom	Tourists	32 613	3.6	5.0
United States	Tourists	75 011	5.7	7.2
Brazil	Tourists	6 430	5.6	10.6
Bulgaria	Tourists	7 311	4.9	6.0
Colombia	Visitors	4 193	12.6	11.9
Costa Rica	Tourists	2 527	4.7	4.1
Croatia	Tourists	11 623	6.3	6.2
Egypt	Tourists	9 650	-8.9	4.8
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia	Tourists	425	12.9	6.4
India	Tourists	7 679	7.4	10.2
Latvia	Tourists	1 843	7.6	20.0
Lithuania	Tourists	2 063	8.2	2.5
Malta	Tourists	1 690	6.0	6.8
Morocco	Tourists	10 283	2.6	2.4
Philippines	Tourists	4 833	8.2	3.2
Romania	Tourists	1 912	9.2	11.5
Russian Federation	Visitors	32 421	9.8	5.3
South Africa	Tourists	9 549	4.3	0.1
EU28			4.0	4.4
OECD members			4.6	6.4
World3		1 133 000	4.5	4.2
Notes: For more information, please see the country profiles.
Tourists: International tourist arrivals (excluding same-day visitors).
Visitors: International visitor arrivals (tourists and same-day visitors).
1. Growth rate 2013-14 refers to 2012-14.
2. Average annual growth rate refers to 2011-14.
3. UNWTO data (2015b).
Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database).
StatLink http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933319623

International arrivals to OECD countries grew by on average 4.6% annually between 2010 and 2014, in line with global arrivals. This is a stronger performance by OECD countries compared with the previous reporting period (2008-12), when average annual growth in arrivals of 1.9% was recorded, below the global average. The longer-term trend however has been of a slowdown in arrivals to the OECD relative to tourism worldwide, resulting in a loss of market share.

Globally, international tourism receipts reached USD 1 249 billion in 2014, up from USD 1 198 billion in 2013. This equates to growth of 3.7% in real term...

Table of contents

• Title page
• Legal and rights
• Preface
• Foreword
• Reader’s guide
• Executive summary
• Part I. Active policies for tourism
• Part II. OECD Country profiles
• Part III. Partner country profiles
• About the OECD