International tourist arrivals experienced a significant increase of 11 percent in 2024, with a total of 1.4 billion people traveling internationally, as reported by the World Tourism Barometer, which was published by UN Tourism on Tuesday.
This data, which was released just ahead of the FITUR international tourism exhibition in Madrid, indicates that the global tourism industry has nearly fully recovered, reaching 99 percent of the levels observed in 2019, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks a major milestone in the sector’s recovery following the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
In 2024, global tourism has not only recovered from the pandemic but has also reached new heights. In many destinations, tourist arrivals and particularly earnings are already exceeding the levels seen in 2019, a clear indication of the sector’s resilience and growth.
Pololikashvili also forecasted that growth would continue throughout 2025, driven by strong demand and contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of both established, mature destinations and emerging tourism markets. This ongoing expansion reflects the broader trend of tourism as a key economic engine in various regions around the world.
The report from Madrid-based UN Tourism further revealed that the Asia and Pacific region experienced a remarkable surge in international travel, with 316 million international visitors in 2024. This represents a 33 percent increase, or an additional 78 million people, compared to the previous year, and brings the region to 87 percent of pre-pandemic tourism levels. This strong rebound underscores the resilience and continued appeal of Asia and the Pacific as major global tourism hubs.
