According to the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism, around 790 million tourists traveled internationally in the first seven months of 2024, about 11% more than in 2023 and only 4% less than in 2019 (UN Tourism World Barometer September 2024 – Press Release). Data show a strong start to the year, followed by a more modest second quarter (-5%). A relatively weaker April (-10%) weighed down on Q2 results, as Easter fell in late March and adverse weather conditions affected several Western European countries.(UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer September 2024 -Excerpt)
A total of 67 out of 120 destinations worldwide had recovered 2019 arrival numbers in the first six or seven months of 2024, based on countries reporting monthly or quarterly data. (UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer September 2024 -Excerpt).
All Asian subregions saw strong growth, with South Asia recovering 92% of pre- pandemic levels, Southeast Asia 88% and Oceania 83%. While North-East Asia is still lagging somewhat behind with a 75% recovery, the subregion saw 66% more arrivals in the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period last year (UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer September 2024 -Excerpt).
Among the best performers in Asia and the Pacific were Maldives (+19%), Mongolia (+13% through June), Fiji (+8%) and Sri Lanka (+7%). Japan saw 7% more international arrivals in the first seven months of 2024, reflecting the continued recovery of inbound tourism and a favourable exchange rate of the Japanese yen compared to the US dollar and other currencies (UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer September 2024 -Excerpt).
Read more on the UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer (September 2024 excerpt) here.
About the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer
The UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer is a publication of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) that monitors short-term tourism trends regularly to provide global tourism stakeholders with up-to-date analysis of international tourism. The information is updated several times a year and includes an analysis of the latest data on tourism destinations (inbound tourism) and source markets (outbound tourism). The Barometer also includes three times a year Confidence Index based on the UN Tourism Panel of Tourism Experts survey, which provides an evaluation of recent performance and short-term prospects for international tourism.
