According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourism numbers are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. The first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year reveals that in 2023, there were approximately 1.3 billion international travelers, which represents 88 percent of pre-pandemic figures.
The report attributes the anticipated recovery to a “stronger recovery of Asian markets” and an increase in the number of airline connections, which is expected to support a full recovery by the end of 2024.
UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili commented on the data, emphasizing the resilience and rapid recovery of the tourism industry, with pre-pandemic numbers projected to return by the end of 2024. He also highlighted the significant impact of the rebound on economies, jobs, growth, and opportunities for communities worldwide, emphasizing the importance of advancing sustainability and inclusion in tourism development.
The UNWTO also stated that “Chinese outbound and inbound tourism is expected to accelerate in 2024, due to visa facilitation and improved air capacity.”
In addition, the organization reported that international tourism receipts reached 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, equivalent to 93 percent of the 2019 figure of 1.5 trillion dollars.
