Global Tourism in 2024: A Year of Resurgence and Growth

In 2024, the global tourism industry experienced a remarkable resurgence, effectively rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. An estimated 1.4 billion international tourists traveled worldwide, marking a 99% recovery compared to 2019 and an 11% increase over 2023, with 140 million more international arrivals (UNWTO).

Regional Highlights

• Middle East: Leading the recovery, the Middle East welcomed 95 million international arrivals in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic figures by 32% (UNWTO).
• Africa: The continent saw 74 million arrivals, a 7% increase over 2019, reflecting growing interest in African destinations (UNWTO).
• Europe: As the world's largest destination region, Europe recorded 747 million international arrivals, slightly exceeding 2019 levels by 1% (UNWTO).
• Americas: With 213 million arrivals, the Americas recovered 97% of pre-pandemic tourism numbers, indicating a strong comeback (UNWTO).
• Asia and the Pacific: This region experienced a rapid recovery, reaching 87% of pre-pandemic levels with 316 million arrivals, a significant improvement from 66% at the end of 2023 (UNWTO).

Economic Impact

Tourism's economic contribution was substantial, with total export revenues from tourism, including passenger transport, estimated at a record USD 1.9 trillion in 2024. This figure is approximately 3% higher than before the pandemic and 4% more than in 2019 in real terms (UNWTO).

Notable Country Performances

• Japan: Foreign visitor spending in Japan reached JPY 5.8 trillion ($39 billion) between January and September 2024, surpassing the previous year's full-year record (Japan National Tourism Organization).
• Saudi Arabia: The kingdom welcomed 30 million international tourists in 2024, setting a new record and reflecting its growing appeal as a travel destination (Saudi Tourism Authority).
• Malaysia: Between January and November 2024, Malaysia attracted 22.5 million tourists, surpassing the 2023 total of 20.14 million, though still 7% below pre-pandemic levels (Tourism Malaysia).

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