International Travel Nears 100% of Pre-Pandemic Levels
Global tourism sees 1.1 billion tourists in the first nine months of 2024, Africa leads with 6% growth, driven by Tanzania and Morocco.
The latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism reports that around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024.
This reflects a robust recovery, achieving 98% of pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong demand in Europe and large source markets globally.
Increased air connectivity and visa facilitation have also played key roles in this recovery, notes UN Tourism.
Regional Performance
Africa and the Middle East
The Middle East marked a 29% increase in arrivals compared to 2019, showcasing record growth. Africa saw a 6% increase in arrivals compared to 2019.
Best-Performing Destinations in MEA (Jan-Sep 2024)
Qatar (+141%), Saudi Arabia (+61%), Tanzania (+43%), Morocco (+29%), Oman (+19%), Jordan (+16%), Kenya (+9%), Seychelles (-7%), Syria (-11%), and South Africa (-14%).
*Based on destinations with available data for months up to August or September 2024. Source: UN Tourism (November 2024)
Europe & Americas
Europe exceeded 2019 levels by 1%, while the Americas recovered 97% of pre-pandemic arrivals.
Asia & Pacific
Reached 85% of 2019 levels, marking an improvement from a 66% recovery in 2023.
Tourism Receipts
According to UN Tourism, a total of 35 out of 43 countries with available data on tourism receipts exceeded pre-pandemic values in the first eight to nine months of 2024.
Many reported double-digit growth compared to 2019, well above inflation in most cases.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili remarked that the growth in tourism receipts is “excellent news for economies” worldwide, highlighting that higher visitor spending compared to arrivals “directly impacts millions of jobs and small businesses” and significantly contributes to “balance of payments and tax revenues.”
Outlook and Challenges
International tourist arrivals are expected to reach 2019 levels by the end of 2024.
Strong export revenues from international tourism have been observed, attributed to higher average spending per trip and longer periods of stay.
However, the sector faces several challenges, highlighted by UN Tourism, including:
- Inflation in travel and tourism costs, particularly high transport and accommodation prices.
- Volatile oil prices.
- Geopolitical tensions and major conflicts impacting consumer confidence.
- Extreme weather events and staff shortages affecting tourism performance.
