The UN World Travel Organisation has reported a new record in worldwide travel, seeing up to 440 million arrivals for the first half of 2011.

The statistics released by UNWTO indicates a 4.5% increase on international tourism led by the 4.8% growth in emerging economies.

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai was quoted in eTravel Blackboard New Zealand as having said that the sustained growth registered in tourism demand in such challenging times clearly makes the case for the sector and reinforces their call to consider tourism as a priority in national policies.

Rifai added that they are very encouraged to see demand picking up in such important tourism destinations and call for continued support to these countries which are today fully ready to receive travellers from all over the world.

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