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Spain set to the USA as the world's second most popular tourist destination. This is according to statistics from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The number of international tourists in Spain by over 7 per cent in 2017. Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy the figures. He the country a record year in 2017, with more than 82 million international visitors. The growing number of international arrivals continues a trend. The figure for 2017 Spain's tourist arrival records for the fifth straight year. This despite the terror attack on Barcelona in August, and demonstrations and unrest in Spain's Catalonia region for independence.

There an 8 per cent increase in tourism to Europe in 2017. The UNWTO said: "Led by Mediterranean destinations, Europe extraordinary results for such a large and rather mature region." Africa is increasingly an established and attractive destination and tourism there also up by 8 per cent. Asia and the Pacific growth of 6 per cent, the Middle East 5 per cent, and tourism to the Americas by 3 per cent. The UNWTO : "International travel continues to strongly, consolidating the tourism sector as a key driver in economic development." France its position as the world's top tourist destination.