"We are confident that the tourism sector is back on the right track after three difficult years and, though still in commotion over the tragic events in Asia, the tourism sector will surely show again its extraordinary resilience and its ability to overcome difficulties by making an important contribution to the quick recovery of the affected countries," WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli said.
"The recovery of the world economy and in particular of the economies of important American and European generating markets, strongly contributed to the very good results obtained in 2004," the WTO said on Wednesday.
Fears of oil prices having a negative impact on consumer travel decreased over the year when it turned out that increased costs were being absorbed by the dynamism of the world economy and seemed not to have affected consumer confidence, it said.
The rise in tourist arrivals varied from region to region -- ranging from four per cent for Europe, to seven per cent for Africa, including the North African sub-region; 10 per cent for the Americas and 29 per cent for Asia and the Pacific as the area recovered from the blow of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, WTO said.
The growth rate for the Middle East, including Egypt, was 21 per cent, it said.
