"World tourism will decline in 2009 with numbers dropping by up to two percent as the economic downturn bites, the UN tourism agency said on Tuesday.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 'expects 2009 international tourism to be in a range of zero to two percent decline,' a statement released by the agency's Madrid headquarters said. And an UNWTO spokesman said the sector may only recover in four years' time. ..." [Agence France Presse/Factiva]

Xinhua adds that "...Although international tourist arrivals reached 924 million in 2008, up 16 million from 2007 or a two percent overall increase on the year, growth stagnated in the second half of last year, hitting Europe the hardest.

The collapse of financial markets, sharp increases in commodity and oil prices and volatile exchange rate fluctuations combined to force a one percent decline in international travel in the six months from July, a trend that is expected to continue in 2009. ..." [Xinhua/Factiva]

Reuters writes that "... 'Europe will be the most affected region ... since the majority of the countries from which tourists originate are already in, or are now entering, recession,' the UNWTO said in a press statement.

The Asia-Pacific region should still register growth, albeit down on previous years, as will Africa and the Middle East. ..." [Reuters/Factiva]