International Travel Rebounds, Reaching 96% of 2019 Levels
790 million tourists travelled in early 2024; Africa saw a 7% increase, with Tanzania up 49%.
The latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism reports around 790 million tourists travelled internationally in the first seven months of 2024—about 11% more than in 2023.
International tourist arrivals reached 96% of pre-pandemic levels in the first seven months of 2024, driven by strong European demand and the reopening of Asian and Pacific markets.
The report highlights a strong rebound despite ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges. This indicates a continued interest in international travel and the effectiveness of improved air connectivity and relaxed visa restrictions.
Regional Breakdown
Africa:
Africa welcomed 7% more arrivals in January-July 2019.Tanzania (+49%), CaboVerde (+34%), Morocco (+32%) and Kenya (+10%) all exceeded their 2019 numbers in the first six to seven months of 2024.
- Middle East: The strongest-growing region, with arrivals exceeding 2019 levels by 26%.
- Europe & Americas: Recovered 99% and 97% of pre-pandemic arrivals, respectively.
- Asia & Pacific: Currently at 82% of pre-pandemic numbers, showing improvement with June and July figures reaching 85% and 86%, respectively.
Positive Recovery Signs
The latest report outlines a total of 67 out of 120 destinations worldwide had recovered 2019 arrival numbers in the first half of 2024.
Notable performers include Qatar (+147% versus 2019), Albania (+93%), El Salvador (+81%), Saudi Arabia (+73%), the Republic of Moldova (+50% through June), and Tanzania (+49% through June).
