Synopsis
International tourist arrivals increased by 11 percent in 2024, totaling 1.4 billion travelers, nearly matching pre-pandemic statistics, according to the UN Tourism's World Tourism Barometer.Key Takeaways
- 11 percent rise in international tourists in 2024.
- 1.4 billion people traveled internationally.
- Tourism numbers are at 99 percent of 2019 levels.
- 1.6 trillion USD in global tourism receipts.
- Projected growth of 3-5 percent in 2025.
Madrid, Jan 22 (NationPress) The number of international tourists surged by 11 percent in 2024, reaching 1.4 billion travelers globally, as stated in the World Tourism Barometer published by UN Tourism.
The findings released just ahead of the FITUR international tourism exhibition in Madrid on Wednesday reveal that tourism figures have rebounded to 99 percent of the levels recorded in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili expressed his approval of the results. "In 2024, global tourism has fully recovered from the pandemic, and in numerous regions, tourist arrivals, particularly earnings, have already surpassed those of 2019," he stated.
He anticipates that growth will persist into 2025, further fueled by robust demand that supports the socio-economic advancement of both established and emerging destinations.
UN Tourism based in Madrid reports that the Asia and Pacific region welcomed 316 million international visitors in 2024, which is a remarkable 33 percent (or 78 million people) increase from 2023 and 87 percent of pre-pandemic figures.
Meanwhile, Europe recorded 747 million international arrivals in 2024, reflecting a 1 percent rise compared to 2019 and a 5 percent increase from 2023. The Middle East experienced the most significant growth relative to 2019, with a 32 percent jump in arrivals to 95 million.
Africa also showcased impressive performance, achieving a 12 percent increase in international tourists compared to 2023.
UN Tourism attributes this growth to the resurgence of international air capacity and air traffic, which returned to pre-pandemic levels over the last twelve months.
This increase in travelers was mirrored in spending, with revenue reaching 1.6 trillion US dollars in 2024, marking a 4 percent rise from 2019 and a 3 percent increase compared to 2023.
The future outlook appears promising as UN Tourism projects growth of 3-5 percent in 2025 relative to 2024, with the "continued recovery of Asia and the Pacific and strong growth in most other regions" expected, provided global economic conditions remain stable and geopolitical tensions do not escalate.
