UNWTO Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department shared the World Tourism Barometer November 20203 report.
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 2023, an increase of 38% on the same months of 2022.
The newest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer also shows:
- 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 the 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 USD 1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93% of the USD 1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.
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 the recovery
- 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, 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 this nine-month period, and 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 reached 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%.
Inbound tourism
International tourism recovered 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023:
•International tourism recovered 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023 (-13% versus 2019) supported by continued pent-up demand in the third quarter of 2023, the period covering the Northern Hemisphere summer season.
•Worlddestinations welcomed 22% more international tourists (overnight visitors) in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
•After reaching 87% in Q2 2023, 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 the pandemic.
•An estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38% over the same months of 2022, though 13% fewer than in 2019.
•Europe welcomed 550 million of those travellers,56% of the world’s total. The Middle East, Europe and Africa lead the recovery through September 2023
•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, with several destinations enjoying extraordinary results, among which Qatar (+91%) and Saudi Arabia (+50%). Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events, are some of the factors underpinning this remarkable performance.
•Europe, the world’s largest destination region, reached 94% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023, supported by robust intra-regional demand as well as strong demand from the United States. According to the US National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), US travel to Europe grew 33% through August (compared to 2022) accounting for 21% of total US overseas travel.
•In Europe, some of the strongest results this period were reported by Albania (+49% over 2019), Andorra (+33%), Armenia (+26%), Iceland (+15%), Liechtenstein (+15%) and Serbia (+14%) all of which surpassed 2019 levels. Among the most visited destinations, France and Spain virtually reached
2019 levels, with a recovery of 99%.
•Africarecovered 92% of pre-pandemic visitors this nine-month period, with Ethiopia (+26%), Tanzania (+19%) and Morocco (+10%) exceeded by far their respective pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023.
•Arrivals in the Americas reached 88% of 2019 numbers this period, led by El Salvador (+35%), Colombia (+23%), Curaçao (+21%) and the Dominican Republic (+21%) among other strong performers. The region has also benefitted from strong US demand, in particular Caribbean destinations.
•Asia and the Pacific reached 62% of pre-pandemic levels this period (up from 52% in Q1 2023 and 62% in Q2 2023) due to slower reopening to international travel. However, performance among subregions is mixed, with South Asia recovering 95% of pre-pandemic levels while in North-East Asia only about 50%. Maldives (+9%), Fiji and Mongolia (both +2%)are some Asia Pacific destinations that already recovered 2019 levels.
•According to Trip.com, global search results for inbound travel to China have significantly improved in Q3 2023 by nearly 40% compared to Q2.In terms of Chinese outbound travel, hotel and air ticket reservations have already recovered80%of pre-pandemic levels in Q3. This shows signs of gradual recovery of cross-border traffic further to China’s reopening of borders early this year.
•On 24 November, China announced a unilateral 15-day visa-free entry policy for holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, during the period from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024.
January-September 2023
- International tourism recovered 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023 (-13% versus the same months of 2019).
- 975 million tourists travelled internationally in the first months of 2023,+38% over the same months of 2022.
- The Middle East saw the best results, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels. Europe covered 94% of pre-pandemic visitors, Africa 92%, the Americas 88% and Asia and the Pacific 62%.
- The strongest sub-regions this period were North Africa, with arrivals 5% above 2019 levels, Central America (+4%) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+1%).
Projections for 2023
The pace of recovery could moderate in Q4 2023 due to persisting economic and geopolitical challenges, as the September UNWTO Confidence Index showed.
International tourist arrivals are expected to reach 1.3 billion in 2023, about 88% of pre-pandemic levels, in line with UNWTO scenarios published in January.
International tourism receipts could climb to USD 1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93% of the USD 1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.
Total export revenues from international tourism (including passenger transport)could reach USD 1.6 trillion, almost 95% of the USD 1.7 trillion recorded in 2019.
Source: UNWTO Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department
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