As forecast by UN Tourism, international travel has reached almost full recovery already this year with global tourism levels reaching 97 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers in the first quarter of 2024.
UN Tourism data shows more than 285 million tourists jet-setted abroad between January and March 2024, up 20 per cent on the same period in 2023.
The Middle East recorded the strongest growth with international arrivals in Q1 exceeding 36 per cent of 2019 levels, following the region’s milestone achievement in 2023 as the first in the world to recover pre-pandemic numbers.
Qatar arrivals, in particular, jumped by 177 per cent in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2019, while Saudi Arabia was up 98 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.
Europe also exceeded pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2024, up one per cent, as Africa also welcomed five per cent more arrivals than the same period in 2019, driven by North Africa (up 23%).
The Americas recorded a near-complete recovery at 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels while APAC numbers have rapidly increased from 65 per cent recovery in 2023 to 82 per cent in Q1 2024.
The strong recovery shows in the UN Tourism Confidence Index, which reached 130 out of 200 points for the January-April 2024 period, above an expected score of 122.
Full tourism recovery in 2024
UN Tourism’s projection for 2024 points to a full recovery for international travel with arrivals increasing by two per cent above 2019 levels for the first time.
This will be bolstered by strong travel demand, increased air connectivity and the continued recovery of China and other major Asian markets.
However, the UN Tourism Panel of Experts warns that governments and travel organisations should be aware that extreme temps and other weather events could make travellers more selective of destination choice.
Meanwhile, tourists are expected to opt for close-to-home trips and value for money in response to global economic challenges.
UN Tourism recommends that local communities remain at the centre of tourism development plans as international travel rebounds.
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