With the continuing Euro zone passing through waves of ‘financial crisis' putting some countries into a double recession, and disagreements across the zone making headline news, it is now not only the banks feeling the pinch.

Several European countries are seeing the negative effect this crisis is having on their industries including tourism. In a recent study, findings proved that the Euro zone crisis was having a negative effect on tourism to Greece during 2012, while in Portugal, Spain and Italy they all saw overall tourism growth.

Compared with 2011 figures, arrivals in Greece from northern and central Europe dropped.

All other southern European holiday destinations were less badly affected and were able to balance losses or show growth. From January to August 2012, compared with 2011 figures, arrivals to Greece fell by 12%.

The previous year, Greece had indirectly benefited from the Arab Spring with tourism growing by 7%. The figures had not been too good in the years previous with key source markets like Germany and UK seeing 20% and 30% less trips to the land of the Gods. However the markets of Russia and Romania helped boost figures.

Italy, Spain and Portugal had a better time in 2011 with arrivals to Italy growing by 4%. However, in 2012, tourist arrivals from Germany and the UK dropped by 3% and 1% respectively. Italy saw a huge 18% drop from Spanish tourists. Again, the emerging markets of Russia and Poland grew substantially and significantly boosted the overall incoming figures giving a 2% growth.

Spain and Portugal were also able to balance the key market drop with new source markets; including +8% from the Arab world in 2011, again due to the Arab Spring. New markets like Russia and Scandinavia saw an increase of 3% in arrivals. UK tourists grew by 5%, while Italian tourists fell by 14%.

The situation is similar in Portugal. The Arab Spring saw a 9% increase in arrivals in 2011 and in 2012 incoming numbers from Germany rose by 4%. Again the Russian and Scandinavian market was positive for Portugal, but there was a drop in tourists coming from Spain and Italy. However, overall, 3% growth was achieved.

Despite the European economic struggle, the World Tourism Organisation is optimistic for tourism in the Euro zone for 2013 with a prospect of 2-4% growth. It would appear that travel is one thing people cannot do without, as never before have so many people travelled and never before have they had so much disposable income than now.

It may not seem like it for some Europeans, but this is true when looking at the global tourism trend with the economic boom in the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China. With significant income growth in these countries that has led to a huge new middle class; the one thing they want to do is to travel! It is therefore predicted that for 2012, worldwide international tourist arrivals will grow by 3-4%. This growth is expected to also come from emerging countries in Asia and the Americas.

In 2012, approx. 170 million more trips will be taken globally compared with 2011. Worldwide, a total of 6.8 billion trips will take place, 2.5% more than in 2011. Domestic travel will also grow by 2%, reaching 5.77 billion, while travel abroad will rise by 4% to 1.03 billion trips. Increased travel activity is spread across the globe with South America showing an increase of +12%, Africa +9%, Asia and Oceania +7%, Japan +13%, USA +3% and Europe 2%.

In Europe, Germany was yet again a very popular destination. In 2011, Germany attracted 48 million visitors and was in the 3rd most popular destination behind the USA (56 million) and Spain (51 million). It was followed by France, Italy and China. Despite the never ending economic crisis, in 2013, Europeans are still expecting to take even more trips abroad. Europe can also expect more tourist arrivals.

Travel trends altered slightly with a drop in beach holidays of 1% and an increase in city breaks of 14%. Short breaks of 1-3 nights rose by 10% and business stays abroad increased by 8%. Trips to European destinations and the Mediterranean increased by 2%. Europeans are increasingly opting for long haul trips which increased by 4%, with destinations in the Americas and Asia Pacific taking the benefit. In 2013 Russian outbound tourism is expected to rise by 9%, and UK and German outbound numbers by 5% and 3% respectively.

Looking even deeper into the tourism trends of Europe, each country shows different travel trends. It is clear that the financial crisis has had an effect on travel by Italians, and Spaniards, with drops of 5% and 2% respectively in outbound trips. However, figures for Switzerland and Norway, who are not Euro zone countries were good and benefited from high exchange rates and saw 10% and 6% increases in outbound travel.

Europe overall, is still a destination much sort after by international travellers with Spain, Germany and many Central and Eastern European countries seeing 5%+ increases in international visitors from Europe and overseas. Europe proved a popular travel destination with Americans for example due to currency exchange rates.

As with all ups and downs there are winners and losers and nothing stays the same. It gives us the opportunity to become better, more focused or more diverse and open with our tourism products. As one door closes another one opens and tourism is an industry that has proved to be very strong against the toughest of situations.

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk