Tourism has taken its present-day definition starting from the early 1800s as “someone traveling abroad for more than twenty-four hours and less that 6 months, for recreational, leisure, or business purposes”. It’s significant growth towards the mid 1900s gave it a different economy-impacting dimension. Nowadays for some countries as France, Egypt, Greece, United States, Spain, Italy, and Thailand, and many island nations, such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives, Philippines and the Seychelles, Tourism is a vital source of income.
International tourism arrivals grew nearly 7% in 2010 to 940 million travelers, generating a total of $991 billion (€693 billion) in exports earnings and is expected to grow between 4% and 5% in 2011. More than 40% of the number of global annual travelers arrive at the following 10 countries.
1- France (74.20 million visitors)
Paris, France
2- United States (54.90 million visitors)
Time Square, Manhattan, New York City
3- Spain (52.23 million visitors)
Plaza de Espana - Seville, Spain
4- China (50.88 million visitors)
Hong Kong streets
5- Italy (43.24 million visitors)
Colosseum in Rome at night
6- United Kingdom (28.20 million visitors)
London bridge tower over Thames river
7- Turkey (25.51 million visitors)
Hagia Sophia mosque, Istanbul
8- Germany (24.22 million visitors)
Christmas night market in Berlin
9- Malaysia (23.65 million visitors)
Kuala Lumpur skyline
10- Mexico (21.45 million visitors)
Mexico City
Stay tuned for the Photo Peeks of the previously mentioned Countries.
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