Tourism growth driven by Asia and the Middle East, with global numbers expected to surpass 2019 levels.

International tourism is set to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicting a 2% growth above 2019 figures. This marks a significant milestone for the global tourism industry, which has struggled to regain its momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel.

According to the UNWTO, 2023 saw 1.3 billion tourists travel abroad, a 44% increase from 2022 and 88% of the numbers recorded in 2019. The recovery has been notably strong in several regions, especially in Asia, which is expected to see a resurgence in 2024, and the Middle East, which has already exceeded pre-pandemic levels with a 22% rise in arrivals compared to 2019.

Europe, the world’s most visited region, performed robustly, reaching 94% of its 2019 figures, while Africa achieved 96% of its pre-pandemic numbers. However, the Asia-Pacific region, despite China’s lifting of strict COVID-19 restrictions a year ago, remains the weakest, with tourism levels only at 65% of those in 2019.

The growth is expected to continue as travel demand increases, with the global tourism industry benefiting from both returning leisure travelers and pent-up demand for international experiences.