2024 की पहली तिमाही में अंतर्राष्ट्रीय पर्यटन महामारी-पूर्व स्तर के 97% पर वापस आ गया: संयुक्त राष्ट्र की रिपोर्ट

International tourism back at 97% of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 of 2024: UN report

International tourism made a remarkable comeback in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 97% of pre-pandemic levels. During this period, over 285 million travelers embarked on foreign journeys, marking a 20% surge compared to the same timeframe in 2023, indicating a nearly complete recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact. Projections from the UN Tourism foresee a full restoration of international travel in 2024, exceeding 2019 levels by 2%. Recent data from the UN's tourism agency underscores this positive trajectory.

Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, emphasized the significance of this rebound for global economies and millions of livelihoods. He stressed the importance of adopting sustainable tourism policies and effective destination management to mitigate the sector's impact on resources and communities. Regional analysis highlights impressive performances across various subregions in Q1 of 2024. North Africa emerged as the leader in international tourism growth with a 23% surge in arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels, followed by Central America (+15%), the Caribbean, and Western Europe (both +7%). Southern Mediterranean Europe surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 1%, while South America nearly reached 2019 levels. Northern Europe, Subsaharan Africa, and North America achieved a 95-98% recovery rate. Numerous destinations worldwide reported robust results in Q1 2024, including Qatar (+177% vs. Q1 2019), Albania (+121%), Saudi Arabia (+98%), among others. The strong growth in international tourism is mirrored in the UN Tourism Confidence Index, which soared to 130 points for January-April, surpassing expectations.

In 2023, international tourism receipts totaled $1.5 trillion, almost reaching pre-pandemic levels in nominal terms. Receipts in Europe, the Middle East, Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific exhibited varying degrees of recovery.

Furthermore, international tourism is anticipated to fully recover in 2024, buoyed by strong demand, improved air connectivity, and the ongoing resurgence of Asian markets. Optimism is evident in the UN Tourism Confidence Index for the May-August 2024 period.

Nevertheless, economic and geopolitical hurdles persist, influencing tourism confidence levels. Factors such as inflation, high interest rates, fluctuating oil prices, and geopolitical tensions pose risks to the sector's recovery.

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