Global Tourism Celebrates Pre-Pandemic Recovery with $1.6 Trillion Revenue
International tourism has made a triumphant return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with a staggering 1.4 billion tourists venturing abroad, as reported by the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism. This significant achievement marks 99% recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, signifying the end of the industry’s recovery journey.
This recovery is underscored by a remarkable financial performance. International tourism receipts skyrocketed to an impressive USD $1.6 trillion in 2024. This is approximately a 3% increase from 2023 and a 4% increase from 2019 in real terms. The Middle East outperformed other regions with international arrivals soaring 32% above pre-pandemic levels. Europe, on the other hand, welcomed a whopping 747 million international arrivals, bolstered by strong intra-regional demand.
Several destinations witnessed exceptional growth, with the following countries leading the charge:
- Qatar (+137%)
- Albania (+80%)
- Colombia (+37%)
Among the world’s top five tourism earners, the following countries also experienced robust growth throughout the first eleven months of 2024:
- United Kingdom (+40%)
- Spain (+36%)
- France (+27%)
- Italy (+23%)
Source: UNWTO
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