Despite concerns over extremist attacks, international tourist numbers increased by 4.4% worldwide in 2015 to a record 1.18 billion. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, France remained the world’s most popular tourist destination, followed by the United States, Spain and China.

“2015 results were influenced by exchange rates, oil prices and natural and man-made crises in many parts of the world,” said Taleb Rifai, head of the UN Organization. Falling oil prices reduced transport costs but weakened travel demand in oil-exporting nations, while weakness in the euro made travel to Europe more attractive for Americans.

Extremism threats

However, threats of extremism in 2015 were ever-present, with deadly attacks in Egypt, France, Lebanon, Tunisia, Mali and other nations. “We are facing now, with regard to safety and security, a global threat,” said Rifai, a former Jordanian tourism minister.

“We cannot anymore say this is the problem of Egypt or France or Tunisia or Turkey or Thailand or Indonesia,” he added in reference to nations that suffered attacks last year claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. “We must continue to travel. We must never allow the pretext of safety and security to curb and reverse our attitude towards making this world more open.”

The UN Organization said 2015 was the sixth consecutive year of above-average growth in global tourism since the economic crisis. It initially predicted numbers would increase between 3 to 4%.