by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 5:16 PM ET, Thu April 26, 2018
Countries within the European Union continue to be among the top destinations on the planet.
In 2017, EU destinations welcomed 538 million international, overnight visitors, which represents a significant 40 percent of the world total, according to a newly released report on European Union Tourism Trends compiled by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
That figure is an eight percent increase over the previous year and continues a multi-year trend that has seen the European Union enjoying the continued growth of international arrivals following the global economic crisis of 2009. Annual growth rates have exceeded four percent in the last five years.
"Sustained growth in tourism has been instrumental in the economic recovery of many countries in Europe and around the world, contributing to job creation, economic growth and a healthy balance of payments," UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said in a statement.
EU accommodation establishments meanwhile, provided more than three billion nights of lodging, half of which were for domestic visitors (residents) and half international visitors. Of the 1.5 billion international nights, 1.1 billion were guests from EU countries and 413 million guests from outside the EU.
In addition, tourism accounts for six percent of the EU's overall exports, according to the new report. The direct contribution of tourism to individual EU economies is as high as 11 percent of GDP in some places.
More than two million businesses dedicated mainly or partially to tourism operate in the EU, most of them small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), employing some 12 million people.
"Tourism is a key pillar of the EU strategy for jobs and inclusive growth and I am confident that our strong partnership with the European Union will continue to drive the quality, sustainability, and competitiveness of the European tourism sector forward," Pololikashvili said.
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