Entrepreneurship und Tourismus

S. 167Introduction

Despite slow economic growth in advanced economies and political tensions in some tourism destinations, the travel and tourism sector still accounts for a large part of the global economy and employment (World Economic Forum, 2015; Holloway, 2009; Middleton et al., 2009; Cooper et al., 2008). During the first half of 2015, the number of international tourist arrivals grew by 4 % (UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, 2015). Destinations worldwide received some 538 million international tourists between January and June 2015, an increase of 21 million compared to the same period of 2014. These numbers show that, despite increased volatility, tourism continues to consolidate the positive performance. “International tourist arrivals worldwide are expected to increase by 3.3 % a year between 2010 and 2030 to reach 1.8 billion by 2030” (UNWTO, 2015, p. 2). Travel for holidays, recreation and other forms of leisure accounted for just half of all international tourist arrivals (53 % or 598 million) in 2014, while 14 % of international tourists travel for business purposes and another 27 % for visiting friends and relatives (UNWTO, 2015). According to the World Travel & Tourism Counci...