International tourism in 2024 has returned to pre-pandemic levels

With 1,4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded globally, 2024 marked the recovery of international tourism

Author  HrTurizam.hr

January 22, 2025

According to the latest UN World Tourism Barometer, an estimated 1,4 billion tourists travelled abroad in 2024, indicating a real recovery (99%) from pre-pandemic levels. This represents an increase of 11% compared to 2023, or 140 million more international tourist arrivals, with results driven by strong post-pandemic demand, a strong performance in major source markets and the recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific. Growth is expected to continue in 2025, driven by strong demand contributing to socio-economic development in both developed and emerging destinations. 

Results by world region

The Middle East, with 95 million arrivals, remained the strongest performing region in percentage terms compared to 2019, with international arrivals 32% above pre-pandemic levels, but only 1% higher than in 2023. Africa (74 million) received 7% more arrivals than in 2019 and 12% higher than in 2023. Europe came in third in terms of recovery. The world’s largest destination region recorded 747 million international arrivals in 2024 (+1% higher than in 2019 and 5% higher than in 2023) largely driven by strong intra-regional demand. All European sub-regions exceeded pre-pandemic levels, except for Central and Eastern Europe, where many destinations are still suffering from the lingering effects of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

The Americas (213 million) recovered 97% of pre-pandemic arrivals (-3% compared to 2019), and the Caribbean and Central America have already exceeded 2019 levels. Compared to 2023, the region recorded a growth of 7%. Asia and the Pacific (316 million) continued its rapid recovery in 2024, although arrivals were still 87% of pre-pandemic levels, an improvement from 66% at the end of 2023. International arrivals grew by 33% in 2024, an increase of 78 million compared to 2023.

"In 2024, global tourism has completed its recovery from the pandemic and in many places, tourist arrivals, and especially earnings, are already higher than in 2019. Growth is expected to continue throughout this year, driven by strong demand that contributes to the socio-economic development of both developed and emerging destinations.", said the UN Secretary-General of Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili.

The full recovery of international tourism in 2024 is also reflected in the performance of other industry indicators. According to the UN Tourism Tracker, international air capacity and air traffic by October 2024 have almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels (IATA).

Income growth

International tourism receipts recorded strong growth in 2024 after practically reaching pre-pandemic levels in 2023, in real terms, adjusted for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. Receipts reach $2024 trillion in 1,6, about 3% more than 2023 and 4% more than 2019. As growth stabilizes, average spending gradually returns to pre-pandemic levels, with nearly $1400 per international arrival in 2020 and 2021 to an estimated $1100 in 2024. That's still above the $1000 average before pandemics.

Among the world's top five countries by tourism revenue, the United Kingdom (+40%), Spain (+36%), France (+27%) and Italy (+23%) recorded strong growth in the first nine to eleven months of 2024 compared to 2019. International tourism expenditure data reflects the same trend, especially among large source markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom (both +36% compared to 2019), the United States (+34%), Italy (+25%) and France (+11%).

///Global tourism - spending is growing faster than arrivals

Positive outlook for 2025 indicates continued growth

  • International tourist arrivals are expected to grow by 3% to 5% in 2025 compared to 2024, assuming a continued recovery in Asia Pacific and solid growth in most other regions. This initial projection assumes that global economic conditions remain favorable, that inflation continues to decrease, and that geopolitical conflicts do not escalate.
  • The outlook reflects stabilization of growth rates following a strong recovery in international arrivals in 2023 (+33% vs. 2022) and 2024 (+11% vs. 2023).
  • The latest UN Tourism Confidence Index confirms these positive expectations. Some 64% of the UN Committee of Tourism Experts see 'better' or 'much better' prospects for 2025 compared to 2024. Some 26% expect similar results in their destination, while only 9% believe 2025 will be 'worse' or 'much worse' than last year.
  • Economic and geopolitical headwinds continue to pose significant risks. More than half of respondents cite high transport and accommodation costs, as well as other economic factors such as volatile oil prices, as the main challenges facing international tourism in 2025. In this context, tourists are expected to continue to seek value for money.
  • Geopolitical risks (in addition to ongoing conflicts) are a growing concern among experts, ranking them as the third major factor after economic ones. Extreme weather conditions and staff shortages are also critical challenges, ranking fourth and fifth among the factors identified by the Panel of Experts.
  • Balancing growth and sustainability will be key in 2025, as reflected in two major trends identified by the Expert Committee: the search for sustainable practices and the discovery of lesser-known destinations.

Author  HrTurizam.hr

January 22, 2025