The table describes the changes of people who went for international travel in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 (in millions)

1. Outline
Introduction:
Introduce and paraphrase the task: The chart compares the number of international tourists visiting five different regions across four specific time points, highlighting differences between regions and trends over time.
Overview:
Point out the main features of the chart:
- The total number of international tourists gradually increased over the years.
- While most regions show a steady upward trend, the figures for America fluctuate significantly.
Details:
Describe the main details of the chart:
Body 1: Select and present overall figures.
Body 2: Describe similar upward trends in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe.
Body 3: Analyse the changing trend in America separately — the only region with fluctuations, which contrasts with the steady growth seen in other areas.
2. Sample Answer
The table provides data on the number of international tourists visiting five different regions across four selected years.
Overall, the total number of international tourists increased steadily between 1990 and 2005. While most regions experienced consistent growth, America was the only region to show noticeable fluctuations over the period.
In 1990, the total number of international tourists worldwide stood at 448.9 million. This figure rose significantly to 615.2 million in 1995, before continuing to grow more moderately to reach 693.7 million by 2005.
The Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa all saw steady upward trends. The Middle East grew from 9.8 million visitors in 1990 to 15.8 million in 2005. Similarly, Africa’s figures climbed from 18.2 million to 28.7 million during the same timeframe. Asia and the Pacific experienced the most dramatic rise, with tourist numbers more than doubling to 135.8 million by 2005. Europe remained the leading destination, with visitor numbers increasing sharply from 280.2 million in 1990 to 390.3 million in 1995, and continuing to rise afterwards.
By contrast, the trend for America was less stable. The number of visitors rose from 80.5 million in 1990 to 112.5 million in 1995 and peaked at 118.2 million in 2000. However, unlike other regions, this figure dropped slightly to 113.2 million by 2005.
In summary, international tourism expanded considerably over the period, with steady growth in most regions, except for the fluctuating pattern in America.
✅ Highlight Vocabulary
📌 Vocabulary | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Rose steadily | Increased gradually over time | The total figure rose steadily. |
Fluctuations | Changes up and down | America showed fluctuations. |
Upward trend | A steady increase | Asia had a clear upward trend. |
Peaked at | Reached the highest point | The number peaked at 118.2 million. |
Stood at | Was at (specific number) | In 1990, the figure stood at 448.9 million. |
By contrast | To show a difference | By contrast, America’s trend was unstable. |
Substantial growth | Large increase | Europe experienced substantial growth. |
Dropped slightly | Decreased by a small amount | The number dropped slightly in 2005. |