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MADRID, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- International tourist arrivals rose by 3.9 percent to a total of 1,235 million during 2016 and a similar growth is predicted for 2017, industry data revealed on Tuesday.
The data were released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)at a press conference, held in the organization's head office in the Spanish capital Madrid.
The 3.9-percent increase in international arrivals seen in 2016 is around 46 million more than in 2015, making 2016 the seventh year of continued growth in the sector since 2009.
They also meant that around 300 million more people made trips to other counties than at the start of the worldwide economic crisis in 2008, according to UNWTO.
With 2017 designated by the United Nations as "The International Year for Sustainable Tourism" and the UNWTO working under the banner "Travel, Enjoy and Respect", the organization is also optimistic about the results for 2017.
The UNWTO predicts growth for this year to be at "a similar level," to 2016 and that there would be 1.8 billion international travelers by 2030.
"Our forecast is for between a minimum of three and a maximum of four percent (for 2017)," said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai.
Rifai highlighted the need for tourism to "contribute to economic growth, social inclusion, cultural and environmental preservation and mutual understanding".
The UNWTO Secretary General explained safety and security were still a "major challenge" and that the UNWTO would be putting together a "security workforce in tourism," and would be "active" in this field in the coming 3 years.
"Because travel and tourism is at the forefront" of terrorist targets, he said. "Security is a major challenge although tourism is growing in spite of these threats."
Rifai said technology had "dramatically changed the rules" of tourism and offered new opportunities in the sector.
The biggest growth in 2016 was in the Asia-Pacific region which witnessed an 8-percent rise in tourist numbers, while Africa showed similar growth after two years of weak results, partly as the result of security issues in the recent past.
Africa still represents under 5 percent of the global market, but Rifai considered this to be a "good result," for the continent.
He warned the results for the region were "not complete" and could show some variation when the final figures are confirmed.
