International tourism grew by almost five percent in the first half of the year, recording a record 440 million arrivals, the World Tourism Organisation said yesterday.

"Between January and June of this year, the total number of arrivals reached 440 million, 19 million more than in the same period of 2010," the body said from its Madrid headquarters.

The rise of almost five percent in international tourism over the period set "a new record of 440 million arrivals," the tourism organisation reported.

The emerging economies are the motor for this rise of the sector from the economic crisis which scarred all sectors in 2008.