Tourism growth has been one of the major economic and social phenomena of the twentieth century.

Tourism is the "movement of people, spatially and temporally, out of their own communities for leisure and business purposes". A tourist is defined by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) as a "visitor staying for more than 24 hours in a country visited for business or leisure purposes".

Therefore, the term Tourism is an umbrella for all relationships and phenomena associated with people who are travelling, whatever the reason. It has no clear boundaries and could be viewed as an industry itself.

Global Tourism

Tourism has expanded dramatically over the last 50 years and has become a global industry. According to WTO’s forecasts, long-distance travel worldwide will grow faster (5.4% each year) in the next decades than travel within regions (3.8%). WTO statistics for 2002 estimated international tourist receipts of US$ 463 billion, a total of 693 million tourist arrivals across the globe and forecast over one billion arrivals by 2010. European tourism accounts for 2/3 of global tourism and is expected to double by the year 2025. The Mediterranean is the World’s number one tourist destination and is generating 1/3 of global tourist revenues.

The World Coast Conference (1993) recognised tourism as the world’s largest single industry and estimated that tourism constitutes 5-6% of the combined Gross National Product (GNP) of all nations. In many coastal countries, tourism is responsible for a much higher percentage of the GNP.

Tourism Industry Forecast

WTO’s Tourism 2020 Vision forecasts that international arrivals are expected to reach over 1.56 billion around the year 2020. Of these worldwide arrivals, 1.2 billion will be intraregional and 0.4 will be long-haul travellers.

The total tourist arrivals by region show that around 2020 the top three receiving regions will be Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia and the Pacific (397 millions) and the Americas (282 million).

Facts and figures

Tourism is one of the strongest economic sectors in the member states of the European Union (EU). Tourism activities in all member states involve around 2 million businesses (mostly small and medium-sized enterprises). These are currently generating up to 12% of the GDP (directly or indirectly), 6% of employment (directly) and 30% of external trade. All of these figures are expected to increase further as tourism demand is expected to grow. An analysis of changes in tourism in the EU over the past 20 years shows that the numbers of bed-places and overnight stays have increased by almost 64% whilst the population rose by only 6,2% (EC 2002).

(Source: Statistics in focus Theme 4-40, EC 2002)

In 1999, tourism in EEA countries (members of EU, Norway and Iceland) has generated US$ 1,040 billion of the GDP (directly and indirectly). The total share is ranging from 9.04 % in the Netherlands up to 24.39 % in Iceland. It is also a strong employment generator with a total of 18.5 million jobs (direct and indirect employment), with the share in total employment ranging from 6.92% in Germany to 20.87% in Iceland (WTTC 2001).

Another indication of the importance of tourism for national economies is the percentage of current account balances that is being covered by tourism receipts. In 1992, the indicator for some Mediterranean countries was as following: Spain 71%, Greece 28%, Malta 102% and Cyprus 74%.

However, there are significant regional differences in European countries with respect to tourism development and indicating the unequal distribution of economic benefits. Mallorca is one of the most well-known tourist resorts where the prosperity of local society is strongly linked to tourism development, which contributes with 70 % to GDP (EEA 2001).

Cyprus

Coastal Tourism

Coastal Tourism is based on a unique resource combination at the border of land and sea environments: sun, water, beaches, outstanding scenic views, rich biological diversity (birds, whales, corals etc), sea food and good transportation infrastructure. Based on these resources, various profitable services have been developed in many coastal destinations such as well maintained beaches, diving, boat-trips, bird watching tours, restaurants or medical facilities.

In the middle of the 20th century coastal tourism in Europe turned into mass tourism and became affordable for nearly everyone. Today, 63% of the European holiday makers prefer the coast (E.C., 1998). The coastal tourism sector in Europe is getting increasingly competitive, with tourists expecting more quality for the lowest possible price. Today’s tourists expect more than sun, sea and sand, as was the case two decades ago. They demand a wide variety of associated leisure activities and experiences including sports, cuisine, culture and natural attractions. At the same time, local people in traditional tourist destinations are increasingly anxious to preserve their own identity, their environment and their natural, historic and cultural heritage from negative impacts.

Facts and Figures

Did you know that a coast is the most preferable type of tourist destination?

Most European holiday makers choose the sea (63%). Other main types of destinations are the mountains (25%), cities (25%), and the countryside (23%). At one end, eight out of ten Greeks chooses the sea - (most probably the sea in their home country). At the other end, only three out of ten Finns makes the same choice.

Facts and Figures

The Mediterranean region is the world's leading tourist destination. In less than 20 years, the number of tourists who visit the Mediterranean is expected to increase from 220 million to 350 million (expected in 2020). 84% of the tourists comes from Europe, mostly from northern and western countries. Germany is the largest market followed by the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. Almost 80% of the Mediterranean tourists choose Spain, France, Italy or Greece (WTO, 2003).

One third of global income by tourism receipts is received by the Mediterranean. Over the last three years, 2/3 of this income returned to the hands of less than 10 tour operators from northern Europe (WTO, 2003).

Currently, mass tourism is one of the main causes for ecological losses in the region. Some locations, which were once pristine, are now beyond repair.

Facts and Figures

Mediterranean - one of most endangered ecoregions globally

WWF has identified 200 regions in the world (called eco regions), which are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity. One of these globally important regions and one of the most endangered is the Mediterranean.

• The 10 key marine areas where there is an urgent need for new reserves and changes in coastal management practices:
• Moroccan Mediterranean Coast and Alboran Sea, Coral Coast of Tunisia (Spain, Morocco, Tunisia)
• Dalmatian Coast and Islands(Croatia)
• Cyrenaica and Gulfs of Sirte and Gabes (Libya, Tunisia)
• Southern Anatolia and Northeast Levantine Coast and Sea (Turkey)
• Aegean Sea and Coasts (Greece, Turkey)
• Sardinia and Corsica (Italy, France)
• Balearic Islands and Sea (Spain)
• Liguro-Provenzal Sea (France, Italy)
• Southern Tyrrhenian Coast and Sea (Italy)
• South-Western Balkans Coast and Sea, Ionian Islands (Albania, Greece)