In 2024, global tourism will significantly revive, with 1.4 billion international travelers, symbolizing almost full recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has become, in the words of the World Tourism Organization, "the worst crisis" in the history of the sector. The industry recorded an 11% increase compared to 2023, with an increase of 140 million tourists, signaling a rebound against the backdrop of strong demand and the reopening of key markets worldwide.
"In 2024, global tourism will complete its recovery after the pandemic, and in many places, arrivals from tourists already exceed 2019 levels. It is expected that growth will continue into 2025, supported by strong demand, contributing to social and economic development in both mature and developing markets," noted UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
The region with the highest outstanding growth will be the Middle East, which will attract 95 million visitors in 2024 — this is 32% more than before the pandemic in 2019 and 1% more than in 2023. Africa also showed promising growth, welcoming 74 million travelers, which is 7% more compared to 2019.
Europe, the most visited region in the world, recorded 747 million international arrivals, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 1% and achieving a 5% increase compared to 2023. At the same time, the Americas received 213 million visitors, restoring 97% of pre-pandemic levels, with the Caribbean and Central America exceeding 2019 figures.
During the first 10-12 months, most destinations worldwide reported an increase in visitor numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, including countries such as El Salvador (+81%), Saudi Arabia (+69%), Ethiopia (+40%), Morocco (+35%), Guatemala (+33%), and the Dominican Republic (+32%).
The World Tourism Organization, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is a specialized agency that contributes to sustainable, responsible, and accessible tourism worldwide. This recovery was significantly facilitated by strong domestic tourism.
Asia and the Pacific region showed significant recovery in tourism, with 316 million international arrivals. Although this represents notable progress, the figures still remain at 87% of pre-pandemic levels, which is an improvement compared to 66% at the end of 2023.
