UNWTO World Tourism Barometer: International Travel Recovery Continues, 11% of Countries Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels

THE UNWTO WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER HAS BEEN RELEASED.

The statistics released by UNWTO provide data on short-term tourism trends on a regular basis. This date is critical as it helps all global tourism stakeholders have access to up-to-date analysis on international tourism to help them plan and take proactive initiatives based on data and science.

According to UNWTO Panel of Experts, 11% of countries have already reached pre-pandemic levels for international travels, 28% are set to achieve it in 2023 while 38% on track for 2024 23% in 2025 or later. 

The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is a quarterly report that provides analysis of the latest data on tourism destinations and source markets. It also includes a Confidence Index based on the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts survey, which provides an evaluation of recent performance and short-term prospects on international tourism.

The Barometer is published four times a year and is available to UNWTO Member States, Associate Members, and Affiliate Members as part of their member’s service.

The 2023 Barometer shows that international tourism is on a strong recovery track. In the first quarter of 2023, international tourist arrivals reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels. This is more than double the number of tourists who traveled internationally in the same period of 2022.

The Middle East was one of the regions that saw the strongest recovery in the first quarter of 2023. International tourist arrivals to the Middle East reached 2019 levels, which is a significant improvement from the 40% decline in arrivals that the region experienced in 2020.

The strong recovery in international tourism is good news for the global economy. Tourism is a major driver of economic growth and job creation. In 2019, tourism generated $8.8 trillion in economic activity and supported 319 million jobs worldwide.

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The continued recovery of international tourism is dependent on a number of factors, including the easing of travel restrictions, the strength of the global economy, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the strong start to 2023 is a positive sign for the future of tourism.

Here are some additional points that you may want to include in your write up:

• The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is a valuable resource for tourism businesses and policymakers. It provides insights into the latest trends in tourism and helps to identify opportunities for growth.
• The Barometer also highlights the importance of sustainable tourism. Tourism can have a positive impact on the environment and local communities, but it is important to manage it in a responsible way.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on tourism. However, the sector is showing signs of recovery and is expected to grow in the coming years.