Tourism trends in Europe and in Mediterranean Partner Countries, 2000-2006 - Issue number 95/2008 - Products Statistics in Focus

The "Statistics in focus" presents the tourism trends in Europe and in the Mediterranean Partner Countries between 2000 and 2006. The Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) are: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Tourism is a growth industry in Europe and in the Mediterranean region. Between 2000 and 2006, the annual number of nights spent by tourists increased faster in the MPCs than in the EU-27. Over the same period tourist arrivals at the MPCs borders increased by 9.4% per year on average, reaching 57.6 mill. in 2006. The number of bed places in hotels and similar establishments grew in the MPCs by 6.1% per year on average. From 2002 to 2005, the tourism balance of payments surplus in the MPCs grew steadily. This publication was prepared within the frame of the MEDSTAT II programme, see Statistical co-operation with Mediterranean countries