Global Tourism in 2024 Recovers to Pre-Pandemic Highs :: Hospitality Trends

In 2024, international tourism bounced back to almost pre-pandemic levels, with 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide. This represents a significant recovery from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Most destinations reported higher tourist numbers compared to pre-pandemic periods, with increased spending significantly.

Data from the World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism indicates an 11% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to 2023, marking a 99% recovery to pre-pandemic levels. This recovery has been fueled by robust post-pandemic demand, strong performance from key source markets, and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific.

The Middle East region led the recovery, recording international arrivals 32% above pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Africa saw 7% more arrivals than in 2019, and Europe, the world’s largest destination region, registered 747 million arrivals, a slight increase over 2019. In the Americas, international arrivals were 97% of pre-pandemic numbers, while Asia and the Pacific rapidly recovered, with arrivals still at 87% of pre-pandemic levels.

The strongest-performing subregions were North Africa and Central America, recording 22% and 17% more international arrivals, respectively, than before the pandemic. Other regions, such as Southern Mediterranean Europe, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, and Western Europe, also showed significant growth.

Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-General, noted that the global tourism sector had effectively recovered from the pandemic by 2024. He anticipated further growth in 2025, underlining the sector’s responsibility to drive transformation with a focus on sustainability and people-centered development.

Several destinations reported outstanding growth in international tourist arrivals and receipts. Countries like El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Morocco, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic significantly exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, countries like Qatar, Albania, Colombia, Andorra, Malta, and Serbia also grew strongly.

Tourism receipts reached USD 1.6 trillion in 2024, around 3% more than in 2023 and 4% more than in 2019. Total exports from tourism reached a record USD 1.9 trillion in 2024, about 3% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The outlook for 2025 remains positive, with international tourist arrivals projected to grow by 3% to 5%, contingent on stable global economic conditions, receding inflation, and no escalation in geopolitical conflicts. However, potential economic and geopolitical challenges, high transport and accommodation costs, volatile oil prices, and extreme weather events pose significant risks to this positive outlook.

Discover more at UN Tourism.