International Tourism Triumphs with $1.9 Trillion in Exports
Global tourism has achieved a remarkable milestone, with 1.4 billion international tourists traveling in 2024. This marks a virtually complete recovery (99%) to pre-pandemic levels.
According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, international tourism receipts reached USD 1.6 trillion in 2024. This represents a 3% increase from 2023 and a 4% growth compared to 2019 levels.
Total tourism exports, including passenger transport, hit a record USD 1.9 trillion. The Middle East led the recovery with arrivals 32% above pre-pandemic levels, while Europe welcomed 747 million international arrivals.
Several destinations reported outstanding growth. The top performers in tourism receipts were:
- Kuwait with a growth of +232%
- El Salvador with an increase of +206%
- Saudi Arabia with a surge of +148%
Source: UNWTO
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