International Tourism Triumphs with Full Recovery: 1.4 Billion Travelers Globally
The global tourism industry has officially rebounded from the pandemic. In 2024, international tourist arrivals soared to 1.4 billion, marking a near-complete recovery at 99% of pre-pandemic levels. The latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism reveals an impressive 11% increase over 2023, translating to 140 million more international tourist arrivals.
Tourism receipts shattered records by reaching an astounding USD 1.6 trillion in 2024. This represents a 3% increase from 2023 and a 4% increase from 2019. The Middle East led the recovery charge with arrivals 32% above pre-pandemic levels, while Europe welcomed a staggering 747 million international arrivals.
Several countries exhibited extraordinary growth in tourism. Qatar led the pack with a growth of +137%, followed closely by Albania at +80%, and Colombia at +37%. The total exports from tourism, including passenger transport, reached a historic USD 1.9 trillion in 2024.
Source: UN Tourism