Global Tourism Triumphs: 1.4 Billion Arrivals Signify 2024 Milestone
International tourism has triumphantly rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a staggering 1.4 billion tourists traveling internationally in 2024. This figure nearly matches pre-pandemic levels, accounting for 99 percent of 2019’s numbers, as per the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism.
This signifies an increase of 11 percent over 2023, translating to 140 million more international tourist arrivals. The surge is attributed to the robust post-pandemic demand, strong performance from major source markets, and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific.
The Middle East outperformed other regions, with international arrivals soaring 32 percent above pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Africa saw a 7 percent increase in arrivals compared to 2019, while Europe welcomed 747 million international arrivals, 1 percent above 2019 levels. North Africa and Central America exhibited the strongest performance, with 22 percent and 17 percent more international arrivals than before the pandemic, respectively.
International tourism receipts experienced robust growth in 2024, reaching a whopping USD 1.6 trillion. This is about 3 percent more than in 2023 and 4 percent more than in 2019 in real terms. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili anticipates this growth to continue throughout 2025, driven by strong demand contributing to the socio-economic development of both mature and emerging destinations.
Source: UN Tourism