International tourism to end 2023 close to 90% of pre-pandemic levels

Overall, 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

International tourism is on track to recover almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September, which is an increase of 38% from the corresponding period in 2022.

WTTC data shows that the contribution of travel and tourism sector to India’s economy was around Rs. 15.7 trillion last year, while the forecast for the next ten years is around Rs. 37 trillion. Meanwhile, the innate human desire to explore new places and seek adventures has fuelled a significant rebound in travel, amplified by the influence of social media trends like Reels and Stories.

WTTC and its partner Oxford Economics indicate that global travel is surging back, with all regions recovering faster than was expected, with Asia-Pacific leading the way.

Speaking at the opening of the Global Summit in Kigali, WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said: “Our latest data highlights our sector’s enduring appeal and resilience and is recovering faster than anticipated.

“This trend underlines the longstanding consumer appetite for travel, and despite China's full recovery potential yet to be realised, the global sector’s performance is exceeding expectations.”

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.

Overall, 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.

International tourism receipts could reach $ 1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93% of the $ 1.5 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.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "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. This is critical for destinations, businesses, and communities where the sector is a major lifeline. "

The Middle East, Europe and Africa lead recovery: The Middle East continues to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals of 20% above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September 2023. It remains the only region to surpass 2019 levels. Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events, help underpin this 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 in the nine-month period and arrivals in the Americas reached 88% of 2019 numbers, as the region benefitted from strong US demand, in particular to Caribbean destinations.

Asia and the Pacific reached 62% of pre-pandemic levels this period due to slower reopening to international travel. However, performance among sub-regions is mixed, with South Asia recovering 95% of pre-pandemic levels but North-East Asia only about 50%.

Tourism spending strong: Strong demand for outbound travel was reported by several large source markets with many exceeding 2019 levels. Germany and the United States spent 13% and 11% more respectively on outbound travel than in the same nine months of 2019, while Italy spent 16% more through August.

The sustained recovery is also reflected in the performance of industry indicators. Drawing on data from IATA (the International Air Transport Association) and STR, the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker details a strong recovery in air passenger numbers and tourist accommodation occupancy levels.

Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover to the pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges like high inflation and weaker global output, as well as important geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

But sustainability is also a key issue. It also encourages travel and tourism to support and inspire governments, business, and society to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework and help transform humanity’s relationship with the natural world.