Double-digit growth in international tourism arrivals in the Middle East hashelped a wider recovery in the global sector.
Arrivals in the Middle East last year increased 14 per cent to 60 million, with "almost all" destinations in the region growing by 10 per cent or more compared with 2009, figures from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showed yesterday.
Internationally, figures were up 6.7 per cent last year to 935 million arrivals following a 4 per cent decline the previous year, described by the UNWTO as the period in which the industry was hardest hit by the economic crisis.
"The recovery in international tourism is good news, especially for those developing countries that rely on the sector for much-needed revenue and jobs," said Taleb Rifai, the UNWTO secretary general. "The challenge now will be to consolidate this growth over the coming years amid a still uncertain global economic environment."
Although arrivals were up, growth in spending trailed the recovery in the number of travellers, according to the UNWTO. It said emerging economies such as China continued to drive growth in expenditure abroad. "Following a year of global recovery in 2010, growth is expected to continue for the tourism sector in 2011 but at a slower pace. UNWTO forecasts international tourist arrivals to grow at between 4 per cent to 5 per cent in 2011," it reported.
Last year, Dubai and Abu Dhabi's tourism authorities both reported increases in hotel guest numbers.
The UNWTO said the increases were driven by emerging economies. In Asia, international tourist arrivals grew 13 per cent last year compared with 2009 to reach 204 million, a record for the region. In Africa, arrivals grew 6 per cent to 49 million; Europe was up 3 per cent to 471 million and the Americas were up 8 per cent to 151 million, all compared with 2009.
But the UNWTO remained cautious about growth for this year. "Persistent high unemployment remains a major concern, with the gradual recovery in employment expected for 2011 still too weak to compensate for the jobs lost during the economic crisis," it said.
rbundhun@thenational.ae
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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