MADRID ~ The number of tourists worldwide rose 4.5 percent last year from 2005 to reach a record 842 million, with Africa showing the sharpest gain, the World Tourism Organisation reported this week.

It forecast an increase of 4 percent in tourist numbers in 2007, noting that the trend was now toward a decline in the pace of growth.

Africa enjoyed an 8-percent rise in tourist numbers last year and was designated the “star performer” by the organisation.