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Article: Sector faces a year in decline: while the Middle East tourism industry will be less affected by the global economic downturn than other regions this year, growth in visitor numbers is predicted to fall.(OUTLOOK)
- Article from:
- MEED Middle East Economic Digest
- Article date:
- January 16, 2009
- Author:
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The global tourism industry faces an uncertain and challenging 12 months as economies around the world slide into recession. As access to credit dries up and fears grow over job security, consumer purchasing power is expected to be restrained in 2009, with overseas travel one of the first luxuries to go.
The Middle East has enjoyed healthy growth in its tourism industry since 2002. But now, tourism chiefs from the region's most popular destinations, such as Egypt and Jordan, and several smaller but growing tourism centres, such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen, are keen to assess the potential impact of the slump.
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) ...