IMPORTANCE OF TOURSIM

During the past six decades, tourism has turned into one of the most significant and fastest-
growing economic sectors around the world (World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, 2013).
According to UNWTO Tourism Highlights (2013), international tourist arrivals have grown
continuously from 25 million in 1950, to 278 million in 1980, 528 million in 1995, and 1,035
million in 2012. Tourism is also becoming a crucial economic activity in the world. The World
Travel & Tourism Council, WTTC (2013) mentioned that in spite of on-going economic
volatility conditions, travel and tourism still continued to grow in most countries around the
globe. WTTC (2013) pointed out that ‘global Travel & Tourism direct contribution to GDP grew
by 3.2% in 2012. This was faster than growth of the world economy as whole (2.3%), and also
faster than growth of other notable industries including manufacturing, financial & business
services and retail.’ Besides the traditional tourism destinations such as Europe and North
America, there are a lot of emerging destinations. For example, by UNWTO regions, Asia and
the Pacific was the fastest growing region with earning US$ 324 billion in international tourism
receipts, accounting for 30% of the world in 2012 (UNWTO,2013). Furthermore, based on
WTTC (2013), South Korea, China, South Africa and Indonesia performed best in 2012 within
the twenty largest Travel & Tourism economies. WTTC (2013) also claimed that China will be
one of the fastest growing countries among Travel & Tourism economies in 2013. Tourism is
still continued expansion in the future. UNWTO (2013) predicts that international tourist arrivals
worldwide will rise to 1.8 billion by 2030, especially in emerging destinations. China is going to
be a leader of Travel & Tourism contribution in GDP, exceeding the current dominance, USA
(WTTC, 2013).

According to TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) AECOM Themed Index (2012), the
attendance of Walt Disney Attractions is the first place with approximately 126 million among
the top 10 theme park groups worldwide (Appendix). As a result, Walt Disney Attractions can be
seen as the leader within other theme park operators throughout the world. The performance of
top 10 theme park operators are all well in 2012, especially in Asia and North America. John
Robinett, the economics senior vice president of AECOM, considered that in 2015, the opening
of Shanghai Disney will create large number of attendance and it may contribute Asian theme
park attendance overtaking North America (TEA AECOM Themed Index, 2012).