1.4 Billion Tourists Travelled Internationally in 2024
The Middle East, Europe, and Africa showed the strongest results in 2024 compared to 2019.
UN Tourism reports that international tourism has made a significant recovery, with an estimated 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded globally in 2024.
This marks a near full recovery (99%) to pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong post-pandemic demand and robust performance from large source markets, according to the organisation.
Regional Highlights
The Middle East, Europe, and Africa see the strongest results in 2024 relative to 2019:
- Middle East: The region recorded 95 million arrivals, 32% above pre-pandemic levels, maintaining its position as the strongest-performing region.
- Africa: Welcoming 74 million arrivals, Africa saw a 7% increase from 2019 figures.
- Europe: Europe, the world’s largest destination region, saw 747 million arrivals, slightly above pre-pandemic levels. All European subregions surpassed pre-pandemic levels, except for Central and Eastern Europe, where many destinations are still suffering from the lingering effects of the Russian aggression on Ukraine.
- Americas: The Americas recovered to 97% of pre-pandemic levels with 213 million arrivals.
- Asia and the Pacific: The region continued its rapid recovery with 316 million arrivals, improving from 66% to 87% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.
Notable Performances
Countries like El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia reported remarkable growth, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. North Africa and Central America led the subregional performance, with 22% and 17% more international arrivals, respectively.
Economic Impact
International tourism receipts reached USD 1.6 trillion in 2024, reflecting a 4% increase from 2019. Total exports from tourism, including passenger transport, hit a record USD 1.9 trillion.
Outlook for 2025
International tourist arrivals are expected to grow by 3% to 5% in 2025, assuming favorable global economic conditions and continued recovery in Asia and the Pacific.
However, economic and geopolitical challenges, including high transport and accommodation costs, remain significant risks.
According to UN Tourism, balancing growth and sustainability will be critical in 2025, as reflected by two major trends identified by the Panel of Experts: the search for sustainable practices and the discovery of lesser-known destinations.
