Africa tops tourism growth

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The survey also showed that visitor numbers to sub-Sarahan Africa – including South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland and the Seychelles – grew by 12.6%.

Overall, tourism round the world rose by 4.5% to 578million arrivals from Jan-August, compared to the same period in 2005. Growth in 2007 is predicted to be 4%. Growth in tourism brings more opportunity for rental income through overseas property.

Asia and the Pacific was the worlds second fastest-growing region, up 8.3%, although the increase was due entirely to Asian countries, with Australasia seeing a decline.

The Middle East was up 6% and the World Tourism Organisation believes that by the end of the year, it will be up by 7.2%.

Europe also saw an increase of 3.1%. Northern Europe led the way with a 6% rise; the South/Mediterranean was up 4.6%; Western Europe rose 2.1% with Central and Eastern Europe down 0.1%.

There was little evidence of travel plans being cancelled as a result of terrorism threats, even to the UK. Arrivals increased 9.8% in August, when threats were at their height.

America was up by 2.5%, with big growth in Central America (+8.7%), South America (+8.1%) and the Caribbean (+5.1%). North America rose just 0.4%, in spite of the 4.3% growth in the USA. It was pulled down by Canada (-4.1%) and Mexico (-3.8%).

South and Central America benefited both from higher expenditures by US travellers and more arrivals from European tourists.