International tourist arrivals have rebounded to 96% of pre-pandemic levels in the first seven months of 2024, according to the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism. The recovery has been driven by strong demand in Europe and the reopening of markets in Asia and the Pacific.
Approximately 790 million tourists traveled internationally between January and July of 2024, representing an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This figure is only 4% below the levels seen in 2019, indicating a robust recovery for the tourism sector.
The Middle East has emerged as the strongest-growing region, with international arrivals 26% above 2019 levels. Africa also saw growth, welcoming 7% more tourists than in the comparable period of 2019. Europe and the Americas have nearly fully recovered, reaching 99% and 97% of their pre-pandemic arrival numbers, respectively. Asia and the Pacific have made significant progress, recovering 82% of their pre-pandemic tourist numbers.
"International tourism is on track to consolidate its full recovery from the biggest crisis in the sector's history,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general for UN Tourism. “The ongoing rebound comes despite a range of economic and geopolitical challenges, highlighting the strong demand for international travel, as well as the effectiveness of boosting air connections and easing visa restrictions."
The recovery extends beyond visitor numbers, with international tourism receipts showing even stronger results. Out of 63 countries with available data, 47 have recovered pre-pandemic values in the first six months of 2024, with many reporting significant growth compared to 2019.
Looking ahead, the UN Tourism Confidence Index indicates positive expectations for the latter part of 2024, although slightly below the prospects for the May-August period. Industry experts cite inflation in travel and tourism, particularly high transport and accommodation prices, as the main challenge facing the sector.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by UN Tourism. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
