WEF: Switzerland and Austria top for tourism
Friday, 7 March 2008 12:00 AM
Airport passenger with luggage
Switzerland, Austria and Germany have the best environments for developing tourism, with Australia ranked fourth and the UK in sixth place, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) latest report.
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 looked at balancing economic development and environmental sustainability.
It noted the dependence of tourism on preserving the natural environment and its ability to motivate governments to focus on environmental protection.
The rankings were worked out by examining competitiveness "pillars" such as the legal environment, safety and security, infrastructure, price competitiveness, and natural and cultural resources.
Spain, the US, Sweden, Canada and France complete the WEF's top-ten list.
The WEF report recognises the travel and tourism industry as a key sector in the world economy, particularly in terms of foreign exchange earnings and job creation.
It also noted the value of the industry to developing countries in improving living standards.
