Around 1.4 billion tourists took a trip abroad in 2024, the same number as before the pandemic, according to an estimate published today, Monday, January 20, by UN Tourism, which reflects the marked recovery of the sector in Asia.
According to this agency HIMbased in Madrid, the number of international tourist trips was 11% higher than that of 2023 (1.3 billion), thus reaching the level of 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic and the date of the previous record.
“In 2024, the turismo world has completed its recovery from the pandemic,” the Secretary General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili, stressed in a statement, highlighting that in several regions figures even higher than those of 2019 were reached.
In Europe, the main world tourist destination747 million international arrivals were registered, 5% more than in 2023, thanks, among other factors, to strong intraregional demand.
The number of international travelers also increased in North Africa (+22% compared to its pre-pandemic level), in the Middle East (+32%) and in Central America (+17%).
According to UN Tourism, The Asia-Pacific region made the most progress last year, with 33% more tourists than in 2023, thanks to the lifting of health restrictions in China.
In this region, however, the level of tourist influx continued to be still lower than in 2019, as detailed by this UN agency, formerly known as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
“Growth should continue through 2025,” Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted in the statement, who considered that growth this year could be “3% to 5% compared to 2024”, driven mainly by Asia.
“This reminds us of our immense responsibility as an economic sector,” added the Secretary General of UN Tourism, who deemed it necessary “to put people and the planet at the center of tourism development.”
The sharp increase in the number of visitors last year aroused misgivings and tensions among residents of several countries, who expressed concern about the consequences of tourist overcrowding in their cities, especially on housing prices.
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