Kathmandu, February 19:

The year 2007 exceeded the expectations for international tourism with arrivals reaching new record figures close to 900 million. The results confirm both the sustained growth path of the past years and resilience of the sector regarding external factors.

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer report, international tourism arrivals expanded by six per cent in 2007, to 898 million international tourist arrivals, in comparision to 2006.

This development has been supported by a strong world economy, which has experienced its longest period of sustained growth for more than two decades.

Of the additional 52 million worldwide arrivals, Europe received 19 million and Asia and the Pacific 17 million tourists. The Americas was up by around six million, Africa by three million and the Middle East by five million, states the report.