The tourism sector is showing full recovery this year from the impacts of the pandemic since only in the first three months of 2024, international tourist arrivals reached 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
The data provided by UN Tourism also reveal that more than 285 million tourists travelled internationally during this period, representing a 20 percent increase over the first quarter of 2023, VisaGuide.World reports.
Even last year, tourist arrivals recovered 89 percent of the levels of 2019, while those from tourism exports remained at 97 per cent, and the direct GDP of tourism reached the same levels as in 2019. In addition, the UN Tourism forecast for this year shows a full recovery in international tourism with arrivals rising two per cent over 2019 levels.
Based on the latest UN Tourism Confidence Index, some 62 per cent of tourism experts expressed better (53 percent) or much better (nine percent) expectations for May-August 2024, covering the Northern Hemisphere summer season, while 31 percent predict similar performance as in 2023.
The recovery of the sector is very welcome news for our economies and the livelihoods of millions. Yet it also recalls the need to ensure adequate tourism policies and destination management, aiming to advance sustainability and inclusion while addressing the externalities and impact of the sector on resources and communities.
Middle East & North Africa Performed Strongest in 2024
Regarding regions, North Africa and the Middle East were ranked as the top regions that saw the strongest performance in the first quarter of 2024. As a result, North Africa registered an increase of 23 percent more international arrivals than before the pandemic, followed by Central America (eight percent), the Caribbean and Western Europe (both seven percent).
On the other hand, the Middle East exceeded a growth of 36 percent in international arrivals during the first three months of 2024, which is four per cent compared to the same period last year.
Southern Mediterranean Europe exceeded pre-pandemic levels by one percent, while South America practically reached 2019 levels. Northern Europe recovered 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels, while Sub-Saharan Africa and North America recovered 95 percent.
Further data from UN Tourism show that destinations that continued to achieve strong results in Q1 2024 are as follows:
- Qatar (+177 percent)
- Albania (+121 percent)
- Saudi Arabia (+98 percent)
- Tanzania (+53 percent)
- Curaçao (+45 percent)
- Serbia (+43 percent)
- Turks and Caicos (+42 percent)
- Guatemala (+41 percent)
- Bulgaria (+38 percent)
International Tourism Hit Us$1.5 Trillion in 2023
Last year, international tourism receipts reached $1.5 trillion, representing a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels in nominal terms but 97 percent in real terms, adjusted for inflation.
Total export revenues from international tourism, including earnings and passenger transport, also reached $1.7 trillion, representing about 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels in real terms.