US slips in tourism league after terror attacks

The United States has lost its status as the world's second most popular tourist destination.

The September 11 terror attacks contributed to a steep drop in international travel last year, the World Tourism Organisation reveals.

The US received 44.5 million visitors, a decline of 12.6% from 2000, and was overtaken by Spain with 49.9 million, a rise of 3.4%.

France retained top slot, with 76.5 million tourists, an increase of 1.2%, the Madrid-based American agency said as it presented preliminary figures for 2001.

Britain had 21.2 million foreign visitors in 2001, down 16%.

Overall, world tourism figures showed flat growth in 2001 and international arrivals fell by 1.3%.

"The attacks have caused world tourism's most serious crisis since the Gulf War but the habit of vacationing and rest is so deeply rooted in our society that the tourism industry is always reactivating," said WTO Secretary-general Francesco Frangialli.

However, he predicted an industry recovery at the end of this year and a worldwide tourism boom in the future, forecasting 2.5 billion international arrivals for the year 2020, more than three times the current number.