ALIS: Macroeconomics point to 2010 rebound | hotelnewsnow.com

World economics paint a dim picture for travel and tourism through 2009, but things should look better in 2010, according to information presented by Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council, at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit. The non-profit organization measures things such as gross domestic product contributed by the travel and tourism industries, employment and demand. “There is a marked slowdown in the most recent monthly indicators of travel and tourism activity,” Baumgarten said. “It will be a tough year … two months ago we evaluated (the travel and tourism economy GDP) forecast and we expected a dip in 2009. We think the dip will be stronger, and we’re in the process of reevaluating that right now.”