• International tourism levels will be slightly higher than its pre-pandemic levels in 2024 boosted by an expected resurgence in Asia, the UN’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said on January 19.

• Figures for last year showed that 1.3 billion tourists travelled abroad, 44 per cent higher than in 2022 and 88 per cent of the numbers in 2019.

• The UNTWO pointed to a stronger recovery of Asian markets, but noted that the biggest rise was in the Middle East which was “the only region to overcome pre-pandemic levels with arrivals 22 percent above 2019”.

• Europe, the world’s most visited region, also saw a strong performance with tourism reaching 94 per cent of its 2019 figures, with African figures reaching 96 per cent.

• In relative terms, the Asia-Pacific region was the weakest with just 65 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, despite China’s lifting of health restrictions a year ago after a strict three-year zero-COVID strategy when it cut itself off from the world.

• International tourism receipts reached $1.4 trillion in 2023 according to preliminary estimates, about 93 per cent of the $1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.

• Total export revenues from tourism (including passenger transport) are estimated at $1.6 trillion in 2023, almost 95 per cent of the $1.7 trillion recorded in 2019.

• International tourism is expected to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with initial estimates pointing to 2 per cent growth above 2019 levels.

World Tourism Organisation

• The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

• Its headquarters is situated in Madrid. 

• UNWTO’s membership includes 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

• As the leading international organisation in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. 

• UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, to maximise tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimising its possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development worldwide.

• UNWTO generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100 countries around the world.

UNWTO’s work is based around five distinct pillars:

i) Making tourism smarter through celebrating innovation and leading the digital transformation of the sector.

ii) Making tourism more competitive at every level through promoting investment and promoting entrepreneurship.

iii) Creating more and better jobs and providing relevant training.

iv) Building resilience and promoting safe and seamless travel.

v) Harnessing tourism’s unique potential to protect cultural and natural heritage and to support communities both economically and socially.

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