Band 9: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The table describes the changes of people who went for international travel in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. (million). Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The table illustrates how the number of individuals opting to travel abroad to six specific nations changed over a period of 15 years.

Overall, global tourism witnessed a significant increase in the number of tourists, as the figures for all six countries reported substantial growth. Throughout this period, Europe consistently remained the most favored destination for international travelers.

In 1990, 448.9 million individuals chose to travel abroad, and this number climbed to 693.7 million by 2005, demonstrating a remarkable upward trend. In terms of specific countries, Europe attracted 280.2 million tourists in 1990, followed by 80.5 million to America and 60.2 million to Asia and the Pacific. By 2005, the number of tourists to Europe had soared to 400.2 million, maintaining its top ranking over the years. Meanwhile, America and Asia and the Pacific also experienced significant increases, reaching 113.2 million and 135.8 million, respectively.

Starting from modest figures, Africa gradually gained popularity, with its tourist numbers jumping from 18.9 million in 1990 to 28.7 million in 2005. Similarly, the Middle East saw an increase, with tourist numbers rising by six million, reaching a total of 15.8 million in 2005.