admin According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, global tourism continued its post-pandemic recovery in 2024, with 790 million international tourists travelling in the first seven months, marking an 11% increase compared to 2023 and just 4% shy of 2019 levels. Although the first half of 2024 showed a strong recovery, the second quarter displayed more modest growth, aligning with UN Tourism’s projections of a full recovery by the end of the year despite lingering economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili indicated that the recovery trajectory has been robust, driven by increasing demand for international travel. He highlighted the effectiveness of initiatives such as boosting air connectivity and easing visa restrictions, which have significantly contributed to this rebound. Pololikashvili also emphasised the need for thoughtful tourism planning to ensure that growth benefits local communities and aligns with long-term sustainable development goals.
Middle East Leads the Global Tourism Recovery
The Middle East emerged as the leading region in tourism growth, with international arrivals 26% higher than 2019 levels. Other regions also saw notable recoveries: Africa recorded a 7% increase in tourists compared to 2019, while Europe and the Americas have nearly reached pre-pandemic levels at 99% and 97% respectively. Meanwhile, Asia and the Pacific still lagged behind, reaching 82% of pre-pandemic tourist numbers by July 2024, with continued improvement expected.
Several countries stood out for their remarkable recovery. Qatar saw a 147% increase in international arrivals compared to 2019, while Albania and El Salvador recorded jumps of 93% and 81% respectively. Additionally, tourism receipts in several countries, including Albania, Serbia, and Türkiye, surged, indicating strong growth in tourism revenues across different regions.
Positive Outlook for the Remainder of 2024
Looking ahead, the UN Tourism Confidence Index predicts a positive finish to 2024, with 47% of tourism experts expecting improved performance in the final months of the year. However, challenges remain, particularly inflation in travel-related costs, broader economic conditions, staff shortages, and extreme weather events, which may temper the sector’s full recovery. Despite these hurdles, 2024 is on track to mark a significant milestone in the ongoing rebound of international tourism.
Magazine 
