International tourism is showing signs of recovery at a good pace, with figures for the first quarter of 2023 showing twice as many travelers as a year ago, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said.
According to the UNWTO barometer of world tourism, international arrivals reached 80% of pre-covid-19 levels in the first three months.
Estimates indicate that 235 million tourists made international trips during these months, more than twice as many as in the same period of the previous year.
According to the revised 2022 data, there were more than 960 million international tourist trips last year, representing two-thirds (66%) of pre-pandemic numbers.
In terms of recovery in the first quarter of 2023, the Middle East posted the best results as it was the only region to surpass arrivals in 2019 (up 15%) and the first to reach pre-pandemic numbers in a full quarter.
Europe reached 90% of its pre-pandemic level thanks to intense intra-regional demand.
Africa and the Americas reached 88% and 85% respectively of 2019 levels.
The Asia-Pacific region reached 54% of its pre-pandemic level, but this upward trend is expected to accelerate as most destinations, especially China, have opened their borders to non-essential travel.
The UNWTO data also analyzes the recovery by sub-region and states that the Mediterranean region and Southern Europe and North Africa also returned to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023, while Western and Northern Europe, Central America and the Caribbean are very close by. reaching these levels.
“This start of the year has once again highlighted the extraordinary capacity of tourism to recover. In many places, we are close to or even above pre-pandemic arrival levels,” said UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili.
“However, we must consider challenges ranging from geopolitical insecurity, staff shortages and the possible impact of the cost of living crisis on tourism, and ensure that tourism returns fulfill their responsibilities as a solution to the emergency. climate change and as an engine for inclusive development,” he said.
According to the UNWTO, revenues from international tourism will again surpass the $1 billion mark in 2022, with a real growth of 50% compared to 2021.
International visitor spending reached 64% of its pre-pandemic level (down 36% from 2019). By region, Europe achieved the best results in 2022, with almost $550,000 million in tourism revenues (€520,000 million), representing 87% of the figures recorded before the pandemic.
Source: DN
