International Tourism in OIC Member Countries
Date: 29 January 2009

Since 1950 tourism has experienced remarkable and continuous growth and made its place among the largest and fastest growing sectors within the economy around the globe.. According to the data obtained from the World Tourism Organization (WTO) the number of international tourist arrivals with an average annual growth rate of 6.6% increased from 25.3 million in 1950 to 846 million in 2006. During this period the international tourism receipts recorded an annual growth rate of 11.3% and in 2006 accounted to US$ 741.2 billion and the receipts per arrival were US$876. Europe and the Americas accounted to 96% of the total tourism market in 1950 but in 2006 this figure fell back to 70.6% in favor of the developing regions of Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

The diversity around the globe and the rich geographical and cultural heritage that they bear bring up a remarkable tourism potential in OIC member countries. On the contrary, this potential is not being fully utilized as the OIC countries have a modest share in the world tourism market and the bulk of the OIC tourism is concentrated in a few member states. It should be noted that if properly planned and organized, tourism, as a sector, can play a very significant role in the socio-economic development phenomena of OIC countries.

Online Electronic Version

International Tourism in OIC Member Countries (English)