## Step 3 - Reading

World Tourism Association Annual Report
You are going to read the Introduction to the World Tourism Association Annual Report 2014.

The top headlines of 2014 painted a challenging landscape. From sluggish economic growth and geopolitical conflicts to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa – to all appearances, such circumstances were hardly favourable for tourism.
Yet in spite of the many challenges the world faced in 2014, international tourism continued to propel ahead.
At the year´s close, the number of tourists travelling internationally grew by 4.4%, reaching a new milestone of 1,135 million, and capping a five-year consecutive increase since the global economic crisis of 2009.
Once again, these results have surpassed UNWTO´s long-term projection of 3.8% growth for the period 2010 to 2020, well on track to reach the projected 1.8 billion international tourists by the year 2030.
With over 1.1 billion tourists taking an international trip every year, tourism continues to be an unstoppable force and a key driver of the global economic recovery.
Yet tourism´s record growth is not merely absolute numbers. Tourism´s continued progress and expansion represents an effective solution for many of the world´s greatest challenges.
Indeed, few sectors are as strategically positioned as tourism to contribute decisively to job creation, poverty alleviation, environmental protection and multicultural peace and understanding.
Tourism´s increasing relevance on the development agenda comes at a critical turning point as we shift
from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the
new blueprint for global development.
During this crucial time, sustainable tourism will be counted on to fulfil its role as an important player in
achieving the ambitious goals of sustainable development, green growth and a more resilient global
economy.
Global challenges call for global solutions. Our commitment remains in advancing UNWTO´s mandate to
promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability
and a global solution for a better future for the planet and its people.
Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General
Source: World Tourism Association (UNWTO) Annual Report 2014

Read the sentences and decide if the sentences are True (T) or False (F).
Think about your answer. Take some notes.
Then compare your ideas with your partner. Do you have the same or different ideas?

1. If there is a major international incident, people choose not to travel.
2. Over 1 billion tourists take an international trip every year. Do you think that is true? Where do they go?
   Where are they from?
3. Tourism supplies other industries.
4. Tourism contributes a lot of money to a country’s economy – for both developed and emerging economies.

Now read the text again and check your answers.