www.irna.com Iran's travel and tourism demand is set to grow by 6.6 percent for the next ten-year period (2006-2015) topping the list of Middle East countries according to the ten-year travel and tourism forecasts for Middle Eastern countries released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Business Travel is expected to remain strong for 2005 in Iran. Government expenditures are showing a major jump over last year. Capital investment remains healthy, while visitors from abroad surges to a strong level of growth in 2005, said the WTTC, a London-based forum for business leaders in the travel and tourism industry.
Middle East Travel and Tourism posted particularly strong growth results for 2004 with total travel and tourism demand increasing 9.1 percent, while 2005 is expected to continue building on this new higher level with more moderate long-term growth forecast at 4.8 percent for the year.
Encompassing all components of travel and tourism consumption, in the Middle East, investment, government spending and exports is expected to grow 4.8 percent and total $128.6 billion in 2005.
The increasing successful efforts by Middle East destinations to attract visitors from abroad are expected to push visitor exports to nearly $53 billion in 2005 or real growth of 8.5 percent.
The Middle East travel and tourism industry is expected to produce 72,000 new jobs in 2005 over its 2004 level to total 1.4 million jobs or 3.2 percent of total regional employment. WTTC President Jean-Claude Baumgarten said, "A growing number of economies in the Middle East have recognized the enormous current and potential impact travel and tourism can make on their economies and job creation and have made this industry a strategic national priority."
|