Almost all of the world’s major travel regions are outpacing hotel bookings made this time last year, according to new figures.
The statistics compiled by wholesale travel brokerage company Tourico Holidays indicate a “very healthy outlook” for the hotel industry and tourism in general.
Collectively, the total number of hotel room nights booked has increased significantly, growing 28.7% around the globe.
As a source market, North America has increased its hotel room nights booked for 2017 by 28% year-over-year.
The EU, as a source, has increased its room nights by 28%, Latin America by 43% and Asia-Pacific by 23%.
The UK as a destination has seen booked room nights for 2017 rise by 38%, while the US has experienced a 26% increase.
China has increased its booked room nights by 52% year-on-year with Canada up 55%, Mexico up 37%, Brazil up 31%, UAE up 65%, Thailand up 29%, Australia up 10% and Sweden up 112%.
Tourico examined booking data from nearly 80,000 hotels located in more than 4,500 destinations around the world and compared it to booking data captured at the same time last year.
Global sales executive vice president Lauren Volcheff Atlass said: “It’s still early, but it’s extremely encouraging to see that booked hotel room nights for 2017 are already significantly outpacing 2016.
“Even despite attempts to frighten people away from travelling, the industry is not only surviving, but thriving – and the hotel sector in particular, continues to grow.
“Tourism continues to be a major driver in the world’s economy, and a key indicator of its health can be measured by the growth in hotel bookings.
“That said, the data not only serves our business, but others in the travel ecosystem.”