Entrepreneurship und Tourismus

1. Introduction

Travel and tourism are big business. Indeed, internationally they account for 10 % of the world’s GDP or $7.6 trillion, providing 277 million, or 1 in 11, jobs on the planet (WTTC, 2015). “If our industry were a country, its direct GDP contribution would rank as the 7th largest economy in the world, behind France and ahead of Brazil”, elaborates David Scowsill, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO, UNWTO since 2003 to avoid confusion with the World Trade Organization), international tourists reached 1,138 million in 2014 (UNWTO, 2015), and this number refers only to overnight stays. Many countries also record vast numbers of people crossing borders for day trips, which are not captured by international statistics. The industry has shown itself to be remarkably resilient with growth that outpaces most other economic sectors. For instance, with 4.7 % growth, 2014 was the fifth consecutive year of above average growth since the 2009 economic crisis (UNWTO, 2015).

Yet, tourism does not have its own category of international law but rather, it is controlled by legislation and regulation written f...