In terms of outbound travel South Americans are
ahead of everyone else in the Americas. In 2012, they undertook
12% more trips abroad than last year, marking a new record. The
country clearly driving growth is Brazil.
This is one of the findings of the ITB
World Travel Trends Report, compiled by IPK International and
commissioned by ITB Berlin.
Outbound travel from the US this year is
forecast to rise by about 3%. The number of long-haul trips rose
by 6%, while short-distance travel fell by around 1%.
Following
an increase this year, in 2013 US travel figures are predicted to
remain stable, at most. The unsettled economy continues to
strongly affect consumers’ plans. Around 52% of Americans, more
than half of those polled, said the recession influenced their
travel intentions, although plans for trips abroad were less
affected than local travel. 23%, 2% more than in 2011, actually
aimed to undertake more international trips, while only 14%,
previously 21%, have no plans at all to travel abroad. In 2013,
overall growth in the US market is expected to be zero.
Brazilians
Remain Keen to Travel
Brazil, South America’s economic powerhouse, has overtaken
everyone else in the Americas and currently leads the market in
spending on trips abroad, which in 2010 rose by 50% and in 2011 by
30%. In 2012 it is forecast to rise by 16 billion dollars,
compared with last year.
As such, Brazil now plays a leading role
in the global tourism market. The destinations most popular with
Brazilians are in Europe and the US. Economic uncertainty is now
also manifesting itself in Brazil. Thus, 45% said the recession
would affect their travel plans. Whereas last year 42% said they
wanted to travel more, today that figure stands at 29%. Overall,
in 2013 outbound travel is forecast to increase by around two%,
compared with 2012.
The decline in trips abroad has had a
positive effect on local tourism. This trend is in keeping with
the anticipated increase in foreign arrivals, which Brazil is
preparing for as the host of two major upcoming sporting events,
the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, for which it has
invested heavily in its tourism infrastructure.
“In recent
years Brazil, along with India, China and Russia, has been a
driving force in global tourism,” said Dr. Martin Buck, director
of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics, Messe Berlin. “This
trend is now weakening. The unsettled economy will also affect
Americans’ travel plans next year. On a more positive note, the
overall figures for outbound travel in 2013 are expected to remain
stable or to marginally increase.”
Launched by the
consultancy IPK International and sponsored by ITB Berlin, every
year at the World Travel Monitor Forum in Pisa, tourism experts
and scientists from around the world present current statistics
and the latest trends in international tourism. Details of
the studies will be presented by the ITB World Travel Trends
Report, which will be published in early December. The report is based on the assessments of
around 50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK
International trend analysis undertaken in major source markets,
and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitor, recognised
as one of the largest continuous surveys of global travel trends in some
60 source countries.
The findings reflect trends which emerged during
the first eight months of 2012.
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