Global tourism set for full recovery by end of the year
By the end of the year, international tourism is expected to fully return, with expenditure outpacing arrivals boosting global tourism
As the global tourism industry recovered 98% of its pre-pandemic levels, approximately 1.1 billion tourists traveled abroad in the first nine months of 2024.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought tourism to a complete halt four years ago, but the Barometer shows that the industry has recovered remarkably, with most regions already surpassing 2019 visitor levels in the January–September 2024 timeframe. In terms of foreign tourism receipts, the report likewise reveals impressive results, with the majority of destinations with data showing double-digit growth during 2019.
“The robust increase in tourism receipts is great news for economies around the world,” stated UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
Millions of jobs and small companies are directly impacted
The fact that visitor spending is increasing even faster than arrivals, and it significantly affects the balance of payments and tax receipts of many economies.
Performance of tourism by region
excellent post-pandemic demand in Europe, excellent performance from major source markets worldwide, and the continued recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific were the main drivers of the significant increase in international visitor arrivals in the first nine months of 2024.
This nine-month period saw record growth in the Middle East, while Europe and Africa also surpassed 2019 levels.
Compared to a 66% recovery in 2023, Asia and the Pacific recovered to 85% of 2019 levels. Since Asia and the Pacific reopened to international travel in 2023, arrivals have gradually but unevenly increased.
Generally speaking, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer season was robust, with global arrivals in Q3 2024 hitting 99% of pre-pandemic levels.
In the first eight to nine months of 2024, arrivals at 60 of 111 destinations exceeded those in 2019.
Receptions from tourism demonstrate remarkable rise.
Serbia (+99%), whose profits nearly doubled (compared to the same months in 2019), Pakistan (+64%), Romania (+61%), Japan (+59%), Portugal (+51%), Nicaragua (both 50%), and Tanzania (both 50%) were among the top earners.
By September 2024, Japan, Turkey, and France all saw double-digit increases among the top earners in the world.
Through August, Italy (+26%) and Spain (+36%) also recorded high tourists receipts. Through June 2024, incomes increased by 43% in the UK, 35% in Canada, and 18% in Australia. The leading tourist destination in the world, the United States, saw a 7% increase through September.
There are still difficulties.
Notwithstanding the generally positive outcomes, a number of geopolitical, economic, and climate-related issues still exist.
The travel and tourism industry is still dealing with inflation, which includes high travel and lodging costs and unstable oil prices.
Extreme weather disasters and staff shortages are also major hurdles for tourist performance, and major conflicts.
Compiled by
World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
