World tourism up sharply last year

MADRID - Global tourism bounced back from the world financial crisis with unexpected vigour, surging almost 7 percent last year compared to 2009, the UN World Tourism Organization said Monday.

"Tourism has once again proved to be a highly resilient sector," UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said in announcing the results.

"Boosted by improved economic conditions worldwide, international tourism has recovered faster than expected from the impacts of the global financial crisis and economic recession of late 2008 and 2009," the Madrid-based body said in a statement.