United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) says, Approximately 790 Million Tourists Travelled Internationally Between January and July This Year

As the world gradually emerges from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel and tourism industry has seen a remarkable recovery, signaling that the worst is now behind us. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), approximately 790 million tourists traveled internationally between January and July 2024. This represents an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2023 and is just 4% below the numbers recorded in 2019, before the pandemic struck.

The data indicates that global tourism has reached 96% of pre-pandemic levels, underscoring a strong and sustained recovery in a sector that was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.

This rebound has been driven by several key factors, including increased demand for international travel, the reopening of critical markets in Asia and the Pacific, and the easing of visa restrictions. The resurgence of tourism in regions like Europe, which continues to be the world's largest tourism market, along with the booming recovery in the Middle East, has further propelled global travel demand.

The UNWTO’s World Tourism Barometer provides an in-depth look at the state of global tourism during the first seven months of 2024. The data reveals a strong start to the year, particularly in Europe and Asia, though the second quarter saw a more modest growth rate. This pattern is in line with the UNWTO's projections for a full recovery in international tourism arrivals by the end of 2024, despite the ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges that continue to affect many parts of the world.

The tourism recovery has not been uniform across all regions, with some areas performing better than others. In terms of relative growth, the Middle East emerged as the strongest performer, with international arrivals increasing by 26% above 2019 levels in the first seven months of 2024. This extraordinary growth is attributed to increased air connectivity, major global events, and the easing of travel restrictions that made the region more accessible.

Europe remains a key driver of global tourism, recovering 99% of its pre-pandemic international arrivals in the first seven months of 2024. As the most visited region in the world, Europe benefited from the strong demand for leisure travel, cultural tourism, and business events. The reopening of major destinations, particularly in Southern and Western Europe, has bolstered the recovery, with tourists flocking to popular spots like France, Spain, Italy, and Greece.