MADRID (AFP) - International tourism grew by 5 per cent in the first eight months of 2013, a better-than-expected growth driven mostly by strong results in Europe and Asia, the United Nations' World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said Thursday.

International tourist arrivals reached 747 million worldwide between January and August, some 38 million more than in the same period last year, the UNWTO said in a statement.

"While global economic growth is in low gear, international tourism continues to produce above-average results in most world regions, offering vital opportunities for employment and local economies," said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai at the opening of the European Tourism Forum in Vilnius.

"This is particularly important for Europe, where unemployment is a major concern in many destinations and where the tourism sector has been a source of job growth in the last decade."

Europe benefited the most with an estimated 20 million more arrivals in the region, with Eastern Europe experiencing a 7 per cent increase in visitors and the south and Mediterranean also performing well.

South-east Asia saw a 12 per cent increase in tourists, continuing to boost growth in the Asia-Pacific region, which welcomed an additional 10 million visitors over the period.

The Americas reported comparatively weaker results, with a 3 per cent increase in tourist arrivals and four percent for North America.

Africa, boosted by recovery in North Africa, received two million extra arrivals, while in the Middle East arrivals rebounded by seven percent after two years of decline.

The organisation said emerging economies were driving international spending in the tourism industry.

"China posted an extraordinary 31 per cent increase in spending, while the Russian Federation (+28 per cent) and Brazil (+15 per cent) likewise saw a sound increase during the period."

Canada, the UK, France, the US and Germany saw spending slow, while expenditure declined in Japan, Australia and Italy.