Global Tourism Triumphs in 2024: A Record-Breaking 1.4 Billion Travelers
International tourism has triumphantly rebounded from the pandemic’s crippling impact. A staggering 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded globally in 2024. This marks a near-complete recovery, achieving 99% of pre-pandemic levels, as per the latest UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer.
The year 2024 witnessed an impressive 11% increase over its predecessor, adding 140 million more international tourists to the global tally. This recovery was fueled by a potent post-pandemic demand, stellar performance from major source markets, and the ongoing resurgence of destinations in Asia and the Pacific region.
Not only did the number of tourists soar, but their spending also reached unprecedented levels. International tourism receipts peaked at $1.6 trillion in 2024. This is approximately 3% more than in 2023 and 4% above 2019 levels in real terms.
- The United Kingdom witnessed a remarkable growth of 40%
- Spain followed closely with a growth of 36%
- France and Italy experienced growth of 27% and 23% respectively
These figures are for the first nine to eleven months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019.
Several destinations reported exceptional double-digit growth. El Salvador led the pack with a growth of 81%, followed by Saudi Arabia at 69%, and Ethiopia at 40% above pre-pandemic levels. This strong performance reaffirms tourism’s role as a key economic driver, contributing to socio-economic development worldwide.