PanARMENIAN.Net - Across the globe, international tourism arrivals grew by nearly 6 percent to 1.4 billion last year, according to preliminary figures out Monday, January 21 from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. That's on top of 7 percent growth in 2017, and higher than the 4-5 percent growth the tourism body expected to see last year, Skift says.

In a long-term forecast published in 2010, the United Nation's tourism agency forecast the number of international arrivals would reach 1.4 billion in 2020. A combination of factors including stronger economic growth, affordable air travel, new business models, and easier access to visas accelerated that date by two years, the organization said in a statement.

"Digitalization, new business models, more affordable travel, and societal changes are expected to continue shaping our sector, so both destinations and companies need to adapt if they want to remain competitive," UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said in the statement.

Europe still saw the most international visitors overall, up 6 percent to 713 million. That's on top of 8 percent growth the year before. Asia and the Pacific also grew at 6 percent, in line with the prior year, reaching 343 million international tourist arrivals.

Arrivals to the Americas increased by just 3 percent to 217 million, with Central America and the Caribbean both down 2 percent and North America ticking up 4 percent. The Caribbean drop came as some destinations recovered from the impact of hurricanes in the later part of 2017. Updated figures for international arrivals to the United States, which has struggled to maintain its share of the global tourism pie, were not available Monday due to the partial government shutdown.

Africa recorded a 7 percent increase in international arrivals, reaching about 67 million. The Middle East was slightly behind at 64 million arrivals, an increase of 10 percent.

The UNWTO expects growth to slow further in 2019 to between 3 and 4 percent, "more in line with historic growth trends." Stable fuel prices, more connectivity by air, and growth from emerging markets all lend to travel increases, but an economic slowdown combined with Brexit-related uncertainty and trade tensions could keep potential travelers grounded, the tourism organization said.

The number of tourists who visited Armenia in January-September 2018 grew by 8.8% year-on-year, the National Statistical Service revealed.

In particular, 1.275 million foreigners arrived in Armenia in the reporting period against the 1.172 million people who took a trip to the country in the first nine months of 2017.