Global tourism recovered 98% of pre-pandemic levels in first nine months of 2024- UN Tourism

GLOBAL – The latest World Tourism Barometer by UN has revealed 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024, a 98% recovery compared to the pre-pandemic levels.

International tourist arrivals saw robust growth in the first nine months of 2024, driven by strong post-pandemic demand in Europe, solid performance from major global source markets, and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific.

Increased air connectivity and eased visa processes further facilitated international travel.

The Middle East experienced exceptional growth, with a 29% increase in arrivals compared to 2019, continuing its upward trend.

Europe and Africa also showed positive results, exceeding pre-pandemic levels with a 1% and 6% increase, respectively.

In the Americas, arrivals reached 97% of pre-pandemic numbers, though the region saw a 3% decline from 2019 figures. Asia and the Pacific rebounded to 85% of 2019 levels, improving from 66% in 2023. The region has experienced a gradual but uneven recovery since reopening to international travel in 2023.

The Northern Hemisphere’s summer season was strong, with global arrivals in the third quarter of 2024 reaching 99% of pre-pandemic levels.

By the end of September 2024, 60 out of 111 destinations surpassed their 2019 arrival numbers. Qatar was one of the top performers, with a remarkable 141% increase in arrivals compared to 2019.

Other strong performers included Albania (+77%), Saudi Arabia (+61%), Curaçao (+48%), Tanzania (+43%), and Colombia and Andorra (both +36%).

Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic brought global tourism to a halt, the Barometer highlights the sector’s remarkable recovery, with most regions exceeding 2019 arrival levels between January and September 2024.

The report also emphasizes impressive results in international tourism receipts, with most destinations reporting double-digit growth compared to 2019.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented that the growth in tourism receipts is a positive development for economies worldwide.

He pointed out that visitor spending, which is growing faster than arrivals, has a significant impact on job creation, supports small businesses, and contributes to the financial stability of many economies through higher tax revenues and improved balance of payments.

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