Young and busy professionals are major globe-trotters

The tourism industry is undergoing remarkable changes

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors around the globe, as it generates revenues for nations, drives business growth, helps improve infrastructure and also provides relief for an overworked and stressed out workforce. Chinese, Indian and Gulf tourists are increasingly travelling to Europe and North America. And the Chinese and Indians are also heading to the UAE, especially during the winter months, when it can be biting cold in the north, but extremely pleasant in the Gulf.
Tourists visiting the UAE during the winter months are fascinated by the wide range of places they can visit. Dubai, for instance, has colourful shopping malls and souks. Among the must-visit places for tourists are the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, the Bastakia in old Dubai, the Creek dhow ride, and the fabulous amusement parks.
Other places of interest in the UAE for the tourists include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, the Jebel Hafeet, the vast deserts that can be accessed from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, and of course, the fascinating beaches in many of the emirates.
Europe continues to be a favourite destination for Asian and Gulf tourists. Most Chinese, Indian and UAE tourists prefer visiting the Continent during the pleasant summer months - especially July and August - when it can be quite nice in Europe, unlike in their own countries. Thanks to the intense competition among airlines, tour operators, hotels and other players, tourists get fascinating offers during the holiday season, especially from the likes of San Francisco-headquartered, Airbnb. Many find it cheaper to spend time in the homes of ordinary folk, who are listed on sites including Airbnb, in central, eastern or southern Europe than staying at hotels in their own major cities.
Europe's top destination for tourists include traditional ones such as Vienna in Austria, Basel in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Milan in Italy and of course, London and Paris. But increasingly, tourists are also heading to Sozopol in Bulgaria, Gdansk in Poland and Stari Grad in Croatia.
Other cities in the CEE that are witnessing huge demand from tourists include Vienna and Budapest. More than 13,000 rooms are expected to be added to hotels in the region over the next three years, says the Cushman and Wakefield report.
Another report by international consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) notes that 2017 was an exceptional year for international travel in Europe. "Record travel demand pushed volumes up to 671 million international tourist visits, an 8 per cent increase on 2016," it said. "Growth was driven by extraordinary results in the southern and Mediterranean region, where tourist arrivals were up 13 per cent, according to UNWTO."
This record growth was primarily underpinned by the improving economic outlook across the Eurozone which continued to propel business and leisure travel, adds the PwC note. "Besides the strong demand from intra-European markets, the US, China and the return of demand from Russia were significant influences."
The US, of course, continues to be a major magnet for global travellers. Earlier this month, the National Travel and Tourism Office (part of the US Department of Commerce), said the country welcomed nearly 77 million international visitors, who collectively spent a record-setting $251.4 billion, a two per cent increase over the figures for 2016.
"International travellers continue to set spending records visiting the US, and I expect that trend to continue in 2018 spawning further job growth," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "The American tourism industry, which generated a trade surplus of more than $77.4 billion last year, continues to help drive our economy to new heights."
Canada and Mexico are the largest source of tourists to the US, followed by China; three million Chinese tourists travelled to America last year. About 1.2 million Indian tourists visit the US every year. Analysts believe that the US will, on a long-term basis, continue to attract global tourists, especially from Asia and the Middle East.
Globally, the tourism industry is undergoing remarkable changes. The average profile of the international tourist is also shifting - from a retired Westerner, drawing pensions and having plenty of time, to young and busy professionals and workers from the developing world, eager to travel around the world - but always on the lookout for good deals.

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