2. WORLD TOURISM
⢠World tourism got off to a surprisingly sound start in
the first four months of the year, although
uncertainty over the global economic situation is
affecting consumer confidence and could hurt
tourism demand.
⢠Whatever be the case, the year 2007 remained a
good year for tourism, as international tourist arrivals
reached 903 million, up 6.6 per cent on 2006, with
France holding onto its first position ahead of Spain
and the US, the World Tourism Organization data
released some time back shows.
3. CONTâD
⢠Sadly, however, out of the 50 most visited countries,
India ranked 42nd, with only 5 million international
tourist arrivals last year.
4. FRANCE (RANKâ1)
Facts and Figures
Official Name (French Republic) Republique
Francaise
Capital Paris
Population 59.5 million
Area 543,965 sq km
Currency Euro ($1=1.08)
Religion Christianity
Literacy 99%
Languages French and regional dialect
Major Cities Paris, Marseilles, Lyons
Climate Cool winters and mild summers
5. FRANCE
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 81.9 million
⢠France remains the top tourist destination in the world.
And not without any reason.
⢠It has, in fact, everything that you could ever want to
see on your holidays: a great city like Paris, good
beaches, more monuments and lovely nature, among
others. France is also a very pleasant place to stay.
⢠The best thing about it is that, barring Paris, living in
France is not that expensive.
6. ABOUT
⢠France , the largest nation in Western Europe, is
known to the world for its rich cultural heritage.
⢠The country has dominated and influenced the
cultural world of western Europe specially in the
field of art and literature right from the middle ages
down to the modern times.
⢠French , the official language of France is the one
of the most popular language in the world and
recognized for its sweetness.
7. CONTâD
⢠France is a highly modern country with 75% of the
people living in the cities.
⢠The French people are famous for their refined
tastes in culture and fashion.
⢠France has been an attractive destination to the
European artists throughout the world in the 17 th
, 18thand the 19 th centuries.
8. SPAIN â FAST FACT
Capital Madrid
Official language(s) Spanish
Recognised regional languages
Aranese, Basque,Catalan/Valencian
Ethnic groups 88.0% Spanish, 12.0%
(Romanian, Moroccan,Ecuadorian, British)
other (2009)
Demonym Spanish, Spaniard
Government Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional
monarchy
King Juan Carlos I
Prime Minister JosĂŠ Luis RodrĂguez Zapatero (PSOE)
9. SPAIN (RANK â 2)
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 59.2 million
⢠Itâs a spectacular and diverse country. The
uniqueness of Spain lies in the separate kingdoms
which made up the original Spanish nation.
⢠These regions remain diverse in their language,
culture, cuisine and art.
⢠Still Spanish people are very open-hearted and
communicative. Spain is also famous for its wines.
10. CONTâD
⢠Every year more than 50 million tourists visiting it
annually.
⢠A tour of Spain would include a visit to its famous
cities Barcelona and Madrid.
⢠Apart from sampling some ethnic Spanish food and
wine one can see some of the most beautiful
architectural designs on the buildings of Spain.
11. USA (RANK - 3)
Official Name United States of America
Capital Washington DC
Population 285.9 million
Area 9,372,614 sq km
Currency Dollar
Religion Christianity
Literacy 97%
Languages English
Major Cities Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago,
Houston, San Francisco
Climate Mainly temperate
12. CONTâD
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 56 million
⢠Situated almost entirely in the western hemisphere,
the US is one of the worldâs most ethnically diverse
and multi culture nations, the product of large-scale
immigration from many countries.
⢠It is also home to several of the worldâs most exciting
cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong
sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology.
13. CONTâD
⢠USA is a top destination for tourists.
⢠Holidays in USA are an experience in diversity as the
country is diverse in its weather conditions, the
composition of the population and the topography.
⢠This diversity has led to people defining USA in their
own terms and one can see the states of USA
having a distinct identity of their own.
14. CHINA - 4
Official Name (People's Republic of China)
Zhonghua Renmin GongheGuo
Capital Beijing
Population 1,285 million
Area 9,561,000sq km
Currency Yuan
Religion Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism
Literacy 82%
Languages Chinese and other local languages
Major Cities Beijing, Shanghai, Canton, Shenzhen
Climate Tropical in south; Subarctic in north
15. CHINA (RANK -4)
⢠With 54.7 million tourist arrivals in 2008
⢠China is currently the sixth most popular tourist
destination in the world.
⢠China is expected to replace France as the worldâs top
tourism destination by 2014.
⢠China is situated in eastern Asia on the western shore of
the Pacific Ocean, with an area of 9.6 million square
kilometers.
16. CONTâD
⢠Its continental coastline extends for about 18,000
kilometers, and its vast sea surface is studded with
more than 5,000 islands, of which Taiwan and
Hainan are the largest.
⢠China has one of the worldâs oldest people and
continuous civilizations, consisting of states and
cultures dating back more than six millennia.
17. ITALY - 5
ďąFacts and Figures
ďOfficial Name : Republica Italiana
ďCapital : Rome
ďPopulation : 57.9 million (2001)
ďArea : 301,278 sq km
ďCurrency : Euro ($1 = 1.08)
ďReligion : Christianity
ďLiteracy : 97%
ďLanguages : Italian (official)
ďMajor Cities : Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo
18. CONTâD
⢠Italy is located in the southern part of Europe.
⢠The itilian Peninsula and Sardinia and Sicily,the two
largest islands in the Mediterranean sea comes
under Italy.
⢠Po river is the longest river in Italy running for 652km.
and forms the largest alluvial plain along its coast.
⢠The plain is known as thePadan Plain . Mont blanc
with a height of 4810mts., is the highest point in Italy.
19. CONTâD
⢠Rome is the capital city of Italy . Rome is also known
for the Roman Catholic Church .
⢠The capital city of Rome has been the cultural
capital of the whole world. The people residing in
Italy are known as Italians .
⢠Italy is considered as one of the highly-developed
country in the world. During the Renaissance period
Italy has been the center for science and art.
20. UNITED KINGDOM - 6
⢠Capital - London
⢠language(s) - Ulster Scots, Scottish Gaelic
⢠Government - Parliamentary democracy
⢠Area - 243,610 km2
⢠Population - 62,041,708
21. UK
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 30.7 million
⢠The United Kingdom constitutes of England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
⢠The country is one of the 15 member states of the
European Union and is the leading industrial and
exporting country.
⢠The north and the west are made up of high hills and
mountains, while the south and east has a lowland zone
with milder climate and better soils for farming.
22. ⢠Britainâs moist climate with persistent rainfall has
given rise to many rivers and lakes.
23. GERMANY - 7
⢠Capital : Berlin
⢠Largest City : Berlin
⢠Area : 357,050 sq km
⢠Official Languages : German
⢠Government : Federal Republic
⢠President : Horst Kohler
⢠Chancellor : Angela Merkel
⢠Population : 82,438,000 (2005 est.)
24. GERMANY
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 24.4 million
⢠Germanyâs cities have endless pleasant surprises in store
for those who enjoy good food and drink.
⢠In addition to top-quality international cooking, each
region has its own local specialities, ranging from hearty
country fare at simple inns to modern light cuisine at star-
rated restaurants.
⢠Germany has not one but many major cities. And each
city has its own unique character, formed by its history
and the surrounding region. Today, Germany is also an
industrial powerhouse.
25. CONTâD
⢠Berlin, a draw in of itself, contains a myriad of
individual sights to see.
⢠Remnants of the infamous Berlin Wall can be found
in parts of the city, and the last remaining gate, the
Brandenburg Gate, can be found along the
western end of Unter den Linden Boulevard.
⢠Those with a fondness for Prussian history will want to
visit the Charlottenburg Palace; it's the oldest
surviving Prussian palace.
26. CONTâD
⢠The Soviet War Memorial and its statues bearing
tribute to the Russian soldiers who died fighting Hitler
is another must-see. Beyond the immense amount
of history available
⢠Germany's capital city also offers a remarkably
diverse zoo which features over 13,000 different
species.
27. UKRAINE - 8
⢠Fast Facts
⢠Capital - Kiev
⢠language(s) - Ukrainian
⢠Area - 603,628 km2
⢠Population - 46,011,300
⢠Currency - Hryvnia
28. UKRAINE
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 23.1 million
⢠Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central
Europe and has its own territory, government, national
emblem, flag and anthem.
⢠It borders on Russia, Byelorussia,Moldova, Slovakia,
Roumania,Hungary and Poland on land and
Russia,Georgia, Bulgaria, Roumania and Turkey on sea.
⢠The country is rich in natural resources and its territory is
mostly a level, treeless plain.
29. CONTâD
⢠Kiev, the capital city of the Ukraine, has long been
an extremely significant center for Slavic culture
and the Orthodox religion.
⢠This makes Kiev an important stop for anyone
seeking to make the most out of a tour of Eastern
Europe.
⢠While Kiev might not yet be making the most out of
its visitor attractions, travelers to Kiev will find the city
has plenty of historical sites to see that don't
necessarily require guides to appreciate, like St.
Sophia's Cathedral.
30. TURKEY - 9
⢠Official Name - Republic of Turkey
⢠Population - 73,197,000
⢠Capital City - Ankara (3.4 million)
⢠Official Currency - Turkish Lira
⢠Land Area - 770,630 sq km
31. TURKEY - 9
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 22.2 million
⢠It is the country that unites Europe and Asia, with her
glorious past that lasted for centuries.
⢠It is a country where European aspirations sit comfortably
alongside Asian traditions and the volatile atmosphere
of the Middle East morphs seamlessly into the relaxed
outlook of the Mediterranean world.
⢠The land of many cultures, decorated with the most
impressive historical ruins and monuments of these
glorious ages and epochs, has been the cradle of many
outstanding civilisations.
32. CONTâD
⢠Ankara is about as European as Turkey gets. There are
touches of the mystical east if you know where to look
but the vast majority of the city is 20th century through
and through.
⢠Ankara is a huge university town and you'll find the
streets of Kizilay and the bars of Sakarya thronged with
students for most of the year.
⢠Capital city status and the presence of language
schools and the above mentioned universities has
brought a sizeable ex pat community to Ankara and all
this adds to the western feel of the place.
33. MEXICO (RANK - 10)
⢠Land Area -1,972,550 sq km
⢠Capital - Mexico City
⢠Population - 111,211,789 (approx.)
⢠Time Zone - (UTC-8 to -6)
⢠Currency - Mexican Peso (MXN)
⢠Mexico National Day - September 16
34. CONTâD
⢠International tourist arrivals in â08: 21.4 million
⢠Mexico is about one-fifth the size of the United States. It is the
second largest economy in Latin America.
⢠It is a country in an intermediate advanced stage of
development with a positive economic performance.
⢠Mexico is a diverse country and a millennial culture with the
Olmecan tribe being the first civilization that appeared
around 1500 years BC.
⢠It is rich in traditions, history, art and religion, offering a
complete tourist infrastructure.
35. CONTâD
⢠Mexico, the fifth largest country in the Americas, is
the world's eleventh most populated country.
⢠Mexico also known as 'The United Mexican States' is
a federal republic country comprising of thirty one
sovereign states.
⢠Major cities are Oaxaca, Morelia, San Miguel de
Allende, Guanajuato, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi,
Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, and Merida in the
Yucatan peninsula.
36. CONTâD
⢠There are many beautiful beaches of Mexico, like on
Oaxaca coast, particularly Zipolite and Puerto
Escondido.
⢠Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen located at Riviera
Maya, Mazatlan, Ixtapa and Puerto Vallarta among are
the places for fun loving and adventurous Tourists.
⢠The peak seasons to visit Mexico are July and August
and from mid December to early January.
⢠Mexico focuses on major tourist attractions, economy of
Mexico, major Mexico cities, Mexico travel.