TASK 1:
Question: Table the table below show the number of international tourists in 8 top countries in 2009 and 2010.
ANSWER:
The table compares the number of international tourists, measured in millions, visiting nine major countries in 2009 and 2010, along with the percentage change over this period. Overall, international tourist numbers increased in most of the countries shown between 2009 and 2010, while Hong Kong was the only destination to see a decline. Moreover, France remained the most popular destination in both years.
Regarding the countries with the highest growth rates, Germany witnessed by far the most dramatic rise. Although it started with the lowest figure in 2009 at just 11 million visitors, this number more than doubled to 23 million in 2010, representing a 109% increase. China also experienced substantial growth, with international arrivals climbing from 22 to 34 million, equivalent to a 55% rise. Similarly, Turkey saw a sharp increase of 33%, as visitor numbers surged from 33 million in 2009 to 45 million one year later.
Concerning the other nations, France maintained its leading position, attracting 76 million tourists in both years, despite recording no growth. The United States experienced only a modest increase of 1.5%, rising slightly from 66 to 67 million visitors. Spain and Italy showed similar patterns, with tourist numbers increasing by around one million to reach 56 million and 45 million respectively. The UK recorded a slightly stronger growth rate of 3.6%, as arrivals rose from 55 to 57 million. In contrast, Hong Kong was the only destination to see a fall, with tourist numbers declining by 11% from 10 million to 9 million.
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