Global Tourism Triumphs: $1.6 Trillion Milestone and Full Recovery from Pandemic
The global tourism industry has achieved a remarkable milestone in 2024, with international tourist arrivals reaching 1.4 billion. This marks a complete recovery from the most severe crisis in the sector’s history. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, this represents a nearly 99% recovery of pre-pandemic levels and an 11% increase over 2023.
International tourism receipts reached a staggering USD 1.6 trillion in 2024, representing 3% growth from 2023 and 4% more than 2019 levels in real terms. Several destinations reported outstanding performance, with the following leading the way:
- Qatar at +137% growth
- Albania at +80% growth
- Colombia at +37% growth
- Malta and Serbia both at +29% growth compared to 2019 levels
The recovery was driven by strong post-pandemic demand, robust performance from large source markets, and ongoing recovery in Asia and the Pacific region. Europe remains the world’s largest destination region with 747 million international arrivals, while the Middle East continued as the strongest-performing region at 32% above pre-pandemic levels.
Source: UN Tourism