The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced on Friday that international tourism is expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, with a projected 2.0 percent growth above 2019 figures. The Madrid-based agency highlighted the resilience and rapid recovery of the tourism industry, noting that global tourism figures for 2023 reached 1.3 billion tourists traveling abroad. This represents a substantial increase of 44 percent from 2022 and an impressive 88 percent of the numbers recorded in 2019.
According to the UNWTO statement, the most significant resurgence is anticipated in Asia, contributing to the overall global recovery. The Asian markets are expected to experience a robust comeback, with the Middle East surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 22 percent – the only region to achieve such a milestone.
Europe, renowned as the world’s most visited region, exhibited a strong performance, reaching 94 percent of its 2019 tourism figures. Meanwhile, African destinations achieved an impressive 96 percent of their pre-pandemic levels.
Despite China’s early lifting of health restrictions a year ago, the Asia-Pacific region demonstrated relative weakness, achieving only 65 percent of pre-pandemic tourism levels. China’s strategic three-year zero-Covid approach, involving a strict self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world, contributed to the region’s slower recovery.
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO, expressed optimism about the tourism industry’s future. “The latest UNWTO data underscores tourism’s resilience and rapid recovery, with pre-pandemic numbers expected by the end of 2024,” he stated.
China, a key player in global tourism, is anticipated to see an uptick in tourism this year. Beijing’s decision to offer visa-free travel for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia until the end of November is expected to boost travel activity.
However, the UNWTO cautioned that the 2024 prediction remains contingent on the pace of recovery in Asia and is subject to various economic and geopolitical risks. Ongoing conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas war, and uncertainties in the global economy pose potential challenges to the tourism industry’s full recovery.
The statement also highlighted potential disruptors like persisting inflation, high-interest rates, volatile oil prices, and trade disruptions, which could impact transport and accommodation costs in 2024. The UNWTO urged vigilance and adaptability within the industry to navigate these potential challenges.
As the world cautiously eyes the recovery of global tourism, the UNWTO’s projections offer both hope and a call for continued vigilance amid the ever-evolving global landscape.
Sources By Agencies
