International Tourism Trends: A Comparison of 1995 and Projected 2020 Data

The table illustrates a comparison of international travelers visiting six different areas in the world in 1995 and the projected year, 2020.

In 1995, Europe attracted the highest number of international tourists, with a staggering 393 million, which was about three times more than the number in America. East Asia had the lowest number of tourists, with only 4 million. South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East had numbers lower than 100 million, with South Asia having the highest number (84 million) and the Middle East having the lowest (14 million).

According to the table, the number of international tourists is predicted to rise in every mentioned area. South Asia is projected to experience the most significant upward trend, reaching 390 million, and is expected to overtake America, becoming the second most popular destination. The popularity of the other areas will remain at the same level as in 1995. It is interesting to note that the number of tourists projected for the Middle East and Africa is the same (69 million) in 2020.

In terms of average annual growth of travelers, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia show similar increasing rates, with 6.8%, 6.5%, and 6.1% respectively. Africa has an average annual growth rate of 5.5%. However, the growth rates in America and Europe are relatively low, with only 3.8% and 3.1% respectively.