According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourism recovered 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023. That puts the sector on course to recover almost 90% by the end of the year. The newest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows that an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38% on the same months of 2022.
World destinations welcomed 22% more international tourists in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong Northern Hemisphere summer season. International tourist arrivals hit 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92% in July, the best month so far since the start of pandemic, while international tourism spending reach $1.4 trillion (€1.29 trillion) in 2023, about 93% of the $1.5 trillion (€1.38 trillion) earned by destinations in 2019.
“The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of Covid-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This is critical for destinations, businesses, and communities where the sector is a major lifeline.”
The Middle East continues to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September 2023. The Middle East remains the only world region to surpass 2019 levels this period. Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events have led to the remarkable performance.
Europe, the world’s largest destination region, welcomed 550 million international tourists over the period, 56% of the global total. That represents 94% of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound was supported by robust intra-regional demand as well as strong demand from the United States.
Africa recovered 92% of pre-pandemic visitors this nine-month period, while arrivals in the Americas reached 88% of 2019 numbers this period, as the region benefitted from strong US demand, in particular to Caribbean destinations.
Asia and the Pacific lags behind, having reached only 62% of pre-pandemic levels this period, due to slower reopening to international travel. However, performance among subregions is mixed, with South Asia recovering 95% of pre-pandemic levels but North-East Asia only about 50%.
