The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s latest report on Tourism Trends and Policies 2024, which was co-funded by the European Union and highlights trends across 50 OECD countries and partners. The tourism sector’s continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with international tourist arrivals in 2023 exceeding pre-pandemic levels in many OECD countries.
However, the pace of recovery has been uneven, and the sector faces renewed challenges that may weigh down on growth.
According to the report, tourism's direct contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 20 OECD countries with available data rebounded to 3.9% in 2022, just 0.5 percentage points below 2019 levels. The sector's contribution to service exports also increased from 9.7% in 2021 to 14.8% in 2022, though still below pre-pandemic figures.
Some countries have experienced stronger recoveries than others. Colombia and Portugal saw international tourist arrivals exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023, with increases of 34% and 12%, respectively. However, countries such as Australia, Finland, Japan, and New Zealand have seen slower recovery rates.
The report also provided government recommendations for new policies that will empower destinations:
1. “To empower destinations to diversify and better manage visitor flows to deliver better outcomes for the environment and local communities.
2. Integrate tourism workers' needs into broader development strategies, ensuring access to affordable housing and transportation in remote areas.
3. Support tourism businesses to access financial aid and skills to adopt digital solutions, green business operations, and develop innovative work practices.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a release distributed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It was reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
