The report covers the main trends in outbound travel demand for the first eight months of 2013 together with estimates for the full year and also contains initial forecasts for 2014, as presented at the Pisa forum (as it is widely known).

This ITB World Travel Trends Report 2013/14 was again commissioned by ITB Berlin from IPK International, organisers of the 21st annual World Travel Monitor® Forum, held at San Giuliano Terme, near Pisa, Italy, in late October 2013. In addition, it focuses on various topics and market segments that were discussed at the forum.

These include the role of mobile technology and social media, the growing youth travel market, trends in the hospitality sector, the potential of Africa and perspectives on sustainability. As the following sections make clear, the world travel industry achieved good growth this year despite the uncertain world economy.

Outbound travel grew by 4% in terms of trips while spending grew by 6%. Emerging markets such as China and Russia were again the top success stories with high growth rates for outbound travel while Asia and Europe performed well as tourist destinations.

The outlook for 2014 is rosy with a 4-5% growth forecast by IPK's World Travel Monitor for outbound travel as the world economy gradually improves. Emerging markets will remain the main growth drivers next year but both Europe and North America are expected to show solid growth as well.

As usual, the Pisa forum was organised in co-operation with the European Travel Commission (ETC). Some 50 experts from around the world, including all regions of Europe, along with North and South America and parts of Asia-Pacific, took part. They represented international organisations, national and regional tourism organisations and associations, international research institutes and private companies from travel and tourism and related sectors.

ITB Berlin is delighted to continue its close association with IPK International and the Pisa forum for the ninth consecutive year. In March 2014 at the ITB Berlin Convention, Rolf Freitag will present updated figures for 2013 as well as current forecasts for 2014.

In the meantime, we wish you happy reading!

Dr Martin Buck, Vice President Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin
David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin
Rolf Freitag, President & CEO, IPK International

Section A: World Travel Trends

World travel and tourism outpaces lowgear global economy

World travel and tourism have grown faster than the global economy this year with a 4% rise in international trips. Emerging markets such as China and Russia were again the top success stories with high growth rates for outbound travel while Asia and Europe performed well as tourist destinations.

The outlook for 2014 is rosy with a 4-5% growth forecast for outbound travel as the world economy gradually improves. These were the key findings of this year's 21st World Travel Monitor® Forum, held in Pisa at the end of October 2013.

Improving global economic outlook supports travel and tourism

After several years of gloomy news about the world economy, prospects for the next few years are gradually brightening up. This improving economic outlook will support further growth for the international travel and tourism sector, Dr. Gernot Nerb, an economic expert at the Munichbased Ifo Institute for Economic Research, told forum participants.

"The tourism industry around the world will undoubtedly benefit from the global economic recovery, forecast at 2.8%, and from the unanimously positive forecasts for every major economic zone," he commented. "We are on an upward path for the next two years."

Nerb was also upbeat about Europe after a two-year period of economic depression and predicted that every eurozone economy except Greece and Cyprus could grow in 2014. Due to the strength of the euro international travellers from eurozone countries benefited from a favourable dollar exchange rate and greater purchasing power.

In addition, prospects for BRIC economies remain good despite slowing growth in some countries (e.g. China and Brazil) and middle-class consumers in these markets would continue to have more disposable income for travel, he emphasised.

IPK sees good growth for international travel

World outbound travel grew solidly this year, according to results from IPK International's World Travel Monitor (WTM) presented at the Pisa forum.

Based on the trends of the first eight months the volume of outbound trips will grow by 4% to 947 million in 2013 and the number of overnight stays will also increase by 4% to just over 7.5 billion nights by the year's end.

This was the first time for several years that the average length of an international trip – just below 8 nights - did not decrease. There was also a slight rise in spending.

With average spending of US$ 1,659 per foreign trip, world outbound travel turnover grew by 6% to US$ 1,571 billion, according to the World Travel Monitor, which covers 90% of world outbound markets.

Read the full report HERE

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