The table compares the number of international tourists who visited a particular country for five different purposes in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. The figures are given in thousands.

Overall, the number of tourists increased in all five categories over the period shown. Holidays were by far the most common purpose of travel throughout the period, while other reasons accounted for the smallest number of visitors. Another noticeable feature is that holiday tourism experienced a much larger increase than any of the other categories.

In 2010, 620,000 tourists visited the country for holidays, which was almost three times the figure for business travel, at 210,000. The number of holidaymakers then rose considerably to 780,000 in 2014 and 950,000 in 2018, before reaching 1.12 million by the end of the period. By comparison, business travel increased much more gradually, from 210,000 to 290,000 between 2010 and 2022.

A similar upward trend can be seen in the remaining three categories. The number of people visiting friends and relatives rose steadily from 180,000 in 2010 to 240,000 in 2022. Meanwhile, the figure for education increased from 90,000 to 150,000. Other purposes remained the least common reason for visiting the country throughout the period, although the number still grew from 60,000 to 100,000.

Vocabulary to highlight

• over the period shown — during the period presented in the table
• by far the most common — much more common than all the others
• accounted for the smallest number — represented the lowest number
• another noticeable feature is that — useful language for introducing a second overview point
• experienced a much larger increase — increased considerably more than something else
• almost three times the figure for — useful for comparing two numbers
• rose considerably — increased significantly
• by the end of the period — by the final year shown
• by comparison — used to introduce a comparison
• increased much more gradually — rose at a slower, steadier rate
• a similar upward trend can be seen — a similar pattern of growth is visible
• rose steadily — increased consistently
• remained the least common — continued to have the lowest figure
• throughout the period — during the whole period