Thursday, September 19, 2024 The global travel and tourism industry has seen a remarkable recovery in 2024, with international tourism bouncing back to 96% of pre-pandemic levels in the first seven months of the year. This impressive recovery, driven by strong demand in Europe and the reopening of markets in Asia and the Pacific, highlights the resilience of the global tourism industry despite ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), approximately 790 million tourists traveled internationally between January and July 2024, an 11% increase compared to 2023 and only 4% less than in 2019.
While 2024 began with a strong surge in tourism, the second quarter saw more modest growth. However, the data aligns with UNWTO’s projections that the tourism sector would see a near full recovery by the end of the year, driven by increased air connectivity, eased visa restrictions, and the reopening of key markets in Asia and the Pacific. Commenting on the recovery, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the sector’s resilience.
“International tourism is on track to consolidate its full recovery from the biggest crisis in the sector’s history. The ongoing rebound comes despite a range of economic and geopolitical challenges, highlighting the strong demand for international travel as well as the effectiveness of boosting air connections and easing visa restr.