Market size
The World Tourism and Travel Council estimates that tourist the industry generated 319 million jobs in 2018, with funds in the industry amounting to 8.8 trillion. dollars
In August 2020, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres presented a new report assessing the devastating impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on global tourism. Up to 120 million tourism jobs are at risk, he warns, and economic damage could top $1 trillion in 2020 alone.
Tourism in the countries of the world
2023
Global tourism is close to pre-pandemic levels. The number of trips in 2023 reached 1.3 billion
At the end of 2023, global tourism activity reached 88% of the indicators observed before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of trips made at the same time amounted to about 1.3 billion. Such data are provided in the materials of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which TAdviser got acquainted with at the end of September 2024.
It is noted that the Middle East in 2023 became the only region that managed to overcome the pre-pandemic level. The number of international arrivals to Middle Eastern countries was 22% higher than in 2019. The number of tourists in Europe was 94% of the level of 2019, which was facilitated by intra-regional demand and travel from the United States. The number of foreign guests in Africa reached 96% of the pre-pandemic level, in the Americas - 90%. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region recovered to 65%, but the indicators here vary significantly: South Asia reached 87% of the 2019 level, and Northeast Asia - only 55%.
 | The latest UNWTO figures highlight the stability and rapid recovery of tourism, with a return to pre-pandemic figures expected by the end of 2024. Recovery is already having a significant impact on economic growth, jobs and opportunities for communities, says UNWTO head Zurab Pololikashvili. |  |
According to estimates, in 2023, revenues from international tourism amounted to $1.4 trillion. This corresponds to 93% of the market volume in 2019 - $1.5 trillion. Export revenues from tourism are estimated at $1.6 trillion, or almost 95% of the pre-pandemic value ($1.7 trillion). The total economic contribution of tourism amounted to $3.3 trillion in 2023, or 3% of world GDP. By October 2023, international air transportation and passenger demand recovered by about 90% compared to the pre-pandemic level.[1]
Revenues from international tourism for the year reached $1.5 trillion and returned to pre-pandemic levels
At the end of 2023, revenues from international tourism reached $1.5 trillion. Thus, in nominal terms, the industry has fully recovered to the level of 2019 - before the introduction of restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking into account inflation, the recovery was 97%. Such data are given in the report of the UN Tourism World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), published on May 21, 2024.
It is noted that the highest revenues from international tourism in 2023 received Europe - $660 billion, which is 7% more than in 2019 in real terms. In the Middle East, revenue climbed 33%. America in 2023 restored 96% of its pre-pandemic income Africa - approximately 95%, the Asia-Pacific region - about 78%.
The study also says that in 2023, tourism GDP recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels, reaching $3.3 trillion - about 3% of global GDP.
It is noted that some areas showed especially significant growth by the beginning of 2024. These are Serbia (plus 127%), (Turkey plus 82%), (Pakistan plus 72%), (Tanzania plus 62%), (Portugal plus 61%), (plus Romania 57%), (plus Japan 53%), (plus Mongolia 50%), Mauritius (plus 46%) and (plus 44 Morocco %).
At the same time, UN experts warn that, despite the restoration of the industry, economic and geopolitical obstacles continue to create serious problems for international tourism and the level of confidence of citizens. Continued inflation, high interest rates, volatile oil prices and disruptions to trade in continue to lead to high transport and accommodation costs. It is expected that tourists will continue to look for the optimal value for money and visit those regions that are located closer to home.[2]
2022
The number of foreign tourists has decreased in a number of countries around the world
Paris leads cities in tourism revenue
On January 18, 2023, the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) published the results of a study according to which Paris in 2022 ranked first in the world in terms of tourism's contribution to the country's economy.
When compiling the report, key indicators were analyzed, such as the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP, employment development and travel spending. It is said that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the tourism sector, as countries around the world have closed their borders. Moreover, even as restrictions eased, many travelers chose trips not to large cities, but to less populated areas, such as coastal and rural areas. But in 2022, tourists began to return to megacities, and such trips are becoming more and more popular.
According to estimates, in 2022, the contribution to Paris the economy due to tourism reached $35.65 billion. In second place is Beijing with $32.62 billion, and Orlando closes the top three with $31.1 billion. The top ten also included (Shanghai $29.69 billion), (Vegas $22.99 billion), (New York $21.09 billion), (Tokyo $17.97 billion), (Mexico City $16.76 billion), ($14.92 London billion) and Guangzhou ($13.15 billion). Analysts predict that in 2032, the leaders of the rating will be the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai, and Paris will fall to third place.
| | Major cities such as London, Paris and New York will remain global tourist hubs, but Beijing, Shanghai and Macau will rise in the list of the most sought-after destinations. Travelers will always have favorite places to return to, but as other countries actively develop the tourism business, we will see new destinations challenging traditional favorites, "said Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC.[3] | |
2021: International tourism up 4% - 415 million overnight trips
In 2021, tourists around the world made about 415 million trips with overnight stays, which is 4% more than a year earlier, when the figure was measured 400 million. However, compared to 2019, when there was no coronavirus pandemic yet, the COVID-19 number of international tourist arrivals fell by 72%. This made 2021 the worst year for tourism in history after 2020, when the fall was 73%, the World Tourism Organization (UN UNWTO) reported on January 18, 2022.
Tourism market experts believe that the expansion of vaccination coverage, combined with the easing of travel restrictions, has helped a small recovery in international tourism in the second half of 2021.
| | The pace of recovery remains slow and uneven across regions of the world due to varying degrees of travel restrictions, vaccination rates and traveller confidence, UNWTO said in a report. | |
The economic contribution of tourism in 2021 (measured in direct gross domestic product of tourism) is estimated at $1.9 trillion, which is higher than $1.6 trillion in 2020, but still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic value of $3.5 trillion.
In addition, UNWTO reports that export receipts from international tourism in 2021 exceeded $700 billion, which is a slight improvement compared to 2020 due to higher travel costs, but less than half of the $1.7 trillion registered in 2019.
In Africa, the increase in the number of international arrivals in 2021 was 12% compared to 2020. In the Middle East, it fell 24% compared to 2020 and 74% compared to 2019. In the Asia-Pacific region, the lag from 2020 is 65%, and from 2019 - 94%, as many areas remain completely closed in this region.[4]
2020
UN: Tourism industry lost $1 trillion due to coronavirus
The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimated the losses of the tourism industry due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic at $1 trillion at the end of 2020. Such data were released at the end of November 2021.
According to the report, revenues from international tourism in 2021 will amount to $700-800 billion, which is a slight improvement compared to 2020, but is less than half of the $1.7 trillion recorded in 2019. The economic contribution of tourism is estimated at $1.9 trillion in 2021, which is significantly lower than the value of $3.5 trillion that was registered in the world before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
After a weak first half of 2021, international tourism resumed during the summer season. In particular, the number of entrances of international tourists who traveled overnight in July-September 2021 increased by 58% compared to the same period in 2020. However, this figure remained 64% below the level of 2019.
Europe recorded the best relative figures in the third quarter: the number of international travel was only 53% less than the same period in 2019.
At the same time, in the first 10 months of 2021, the number of international tourists worldwide was -20% against 2020, which is a clear improvement compared to the first six months of the year (-54%).
Compared to 2019, "the number of trips is still 76% lower than the pre-pandemic level, and the results in various regions of the world remain uneven," said UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili. According to him, almost half of the surveyed experts (45%) believe that international tourism will return to 2019 levels in 2024 or later, while 43% indicate a recovery in 2023.[5]
Tourist flow decreased by 1 billion people or 74%
According to the World Tourism Organization at the UN, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global tourist flow decreased by 1 billion people compared to the previous year, which is comparable to a 74% drop (100-120 million jobs were abolished).
By comparison, the global tourism market fell 4% in 2009 after the global financial crisis.
Leading countries in the share of foreign tourists in the average day to the population
The volume of tourist trips around the world in January-October decreased to the level of 1990
In mid-December 2020, the World Tourism Organization published a report according to which in the first ten months the number of international tourist trips fell by 72% and rolled back to the level of 1990. Travel restrictions, low customer confidence and the global fight to contain COVID-19 have led to 2020 being the worst year in tourism history.
Between January and October, the number of foreign tourists decreased by 900 million compared to the same period in 2019. This means a loss of $935 billion in revenue from international tourism, more than 10 times the loss of 2009 during the global economic crisis. Such a sharp drop in tourism revenues due to the pandemic could lead to economic losses of $2 trillion in world GDP.
In the Asia-Pacific region with the highest level of tourist restrictions in the first ten months of 2020, the number of trips decreased by 82%. In the Middle East, a decline of 73% was recorded, and in Africa - by 69%. International travel in Europe and America declined 68%. While a second wave in Europe has led to the re-imposition of restrictions, the region remains still the most tourism-friendly, with travel still permitted in most cases (91% as of November 1, 2020), mostly among the Schengen member states.
International tourism spending data still reflects very weak demand for overseas travel. However, some major markets, such as the US Germany and, France have seen a gradual recovery. In addition, China Russia demand for domestic tourism continues to grow in some markets, including and. In the future, it is expected that the start of vaccination will gradually increase consumer confidence in tour operators.[6]
Countries with the most UNESCO-protected world heritage sites
2019
Where the most tourists arrive in Europe
Virtual reality spa and subscription hotels. What the travel market will be like in 2020
At the end of December 2019, Bloomberg presented its forecast for the development of the tourism market in 2020. According to observers, traditional types of recreation and travel will continue, although they will experience a fashion for sustainability and technology.
Virtual reality
Some resorts are starting to attract customers with high-tech entertainment. Thus, the luxurious Hawaiian hotel Four Seasons Resort Oahu offered a virtual reality spa service - for 20-80 minutes, a VR headset "takes" guests into deep space, ocean bays or zen gardens, while electronics produce similar sounds and even smells, imitating wind and air temperature. The AI system assesses a visitor's breathing and heart rate data to ensure they rest and relax.
Rest by subscription
Another trend that is gaining popularity is subscription holidays. Inspirato Pass Hotel offers to issue a membership subscription for 2020 for an "endless annual trip" for $2.5 thousand per month. It will give unlimited access to hotels, yachts and the entire range of entertainment establishments.
Owners of Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos (Mexico) offer to book a villa with a subscription. When issuing it, the client's vacation begins even before being sent to the airport: the butlers will meet the traveler at the front door, take him to the departure point and offer a personalized treat along the way.
The Blackberry Mountain Hotel also offers a subscription vacation that includes dinners, pottery courses, yoga classes, tree climbing seans, boat rowing and a seven-course dinner with a wine collection.[7]
Eco-friendly fashion
Tour operator Natural Habitats at the end of 2019 began offering routes with minimal environmental impact, as well as investing in nature protection. Led by World Wildlife Fund experts, travelers can look at whale migration, the Amazon rainforest or polar bears in the Arctic.
1.5 billion international travel trips (+ 4%). List of most visited countries
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 1.5 billion international tourist trips were made in 2019. The number of international tourist trips increased by 4%, ATOR reports.
France is still the leader in world tourism. The country received 90.2 million visitors, an increase of 800,000 from 2018.
The most visited countries in the world:
- France (90.2 million tourists)
- Spain (83.8 million)
- United States (78.7 million)
- China (67.5 million)
- Italy (64.6 million)
- Turkey (52.5 million)
- Mexico (44.9 million)
- Thailand (39.7 million)
- Germany (39.4 million)
The fastest growing destinations of 2019 were also named. The leader was Myanmar, where the increase in tourists compared to 2018 was 40.2 percent. In 2011, conflict broke out with renewed vigor in this country between indigenous Arakan Buddhists and ethnic Muslim Rohingya Bengalis, whom locals consider illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Experts note that in 2019 the situation returned to normal, which contributed to an increase in the tourist flow to Myanmar.
The fastest growing tourist destinations in the world at the end of 2019:
- Myanmar + 40.2%
- Puerto Rico + 31.2%
- Iran + 27.9%
- Uzbekistan + 27.3%
- Montenegro + 21.4%
- Egypt + 21.1%
- Vietnam + 16.2%
- Philippines + 15.1%
- Maldives + 14.9%
- Bahamas + 14.6%
- Qatar + 14.5%
- Armenia + 14.4%
- South Korea + 14.4%
- Turkey + 14.0%
- Bosnia and Herzegovina + 13.7%
- Tunisia + 13.6%
- Laos + 11.5%
- Azerbaijan + 11.4%
- Israel + 10.5%
- Lithuania + 10.1%
Residents of which countries travel most often and where
In August 2019, the Mastercard payment system presented an annual rating. It determines which countries travel the most around the world. Russia - Antalya, Pattaya, Phuket.
Spain, France and Germany - in the top 3 world ranking of competitiveness in the field of tourism
Consulting company Strategy Partners presented the results of the international study of countries' competitiveness in the field of travel and tourism The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019, conducted by WEF in partnership with Strategy Partners and the Eurasian Institute of Competitiveness.
Compared to 2018, the composition of the top 10 countries of the rating has not changed. The top three traditionally included, and Spain France , Germany who scored 5.4 points each. They are followed by (Japan 5.3), (5.3 United States of America), (5.2) Great Britain., and Australia Italy received Canada 5.1 rating points each. Completes the "top ten," which in Switzerland 2019 scored 5.0 points. It is worth noting that this year the UK has dropped from fifth to sixth position due to the deterioration of the business atmosphere and less attention to its own natural and cultural resources.
It is noted that in general, the competitiveness of countries in the field of travel and tourism (T&T) continues to grow around the world. In 2019, this type of industry brought 10% of global GDP and about the same amount to the international labor market. Experts expect that this figure could double in the next decade thanks to an increase in the number of middle-class people, especially in Asia.
As for, in the Europe current rating, the largest growth showed, Serbia immediately rising by 12 points in the overall rating (from 95th to 83rd place). In the countries of the post-Soviet space, the greatest growth was demonstrated, for the Russian Federation first time in two years, being in first place., which Estonia previously occupied the 37th position, in 2019 dropped to 46th place. Latvia took the 56th line of the rating, - Georgia 70th, - Azerbaijan 71st, - 81st Kazakhstan , - 88th, Ukraine - 103rd, Moldova - 107th, Tajikistan - 115th. Kyrgyzstan
2018
European countries are expensive for tourists
Bangkok tops MasterCard Global Destination Cities for fourth year in a row
On September 5, 2019, it became known that Bangkok headed the MasterCard Global Destination Cities for the fourth year in a row. Over the past ten years, the world has seen economic upheavals and recessions, increased competition, the formation of global partnerships and the limitless process of technological innovation. But one thing remained the same: people's desire to travel the world, discover new places and immerse themselves in other cultures. The MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index (GDCI) rating confirms this - since 2009, the number of foreign tourists worldwide has grown by 76%.
The Mastercard rating ranks 200 cities around the world, analyzing publicly available data on the number of travelers who came from abroad and the amount of money they spent. The 2019 ranking shows Bangkok remains the most popular destination, with more than 22 million foreign tourists heading in 2018. Paris and London switched places and took second and third lines, respectively. Both cities were visited by over 19 million travelers. In all cities in the top 10, in 2018 the number of visiting foreign tourists increased compared to the previous year. The exception was London - the number of visitors from abroad decreased by 4%. The 2019 forecast suggests tourism growth across the board, with the largest influx of tourists expected in Tokyo.
- Consistent and sustained growth. The only thing that has remained unchanged in the nature of the last decade is the process of permanent change. The number of foreign travelers and the amount of their spending increase every year. In all directions in the GDCI rating, the number of tourists arriving from abroad increased by an average of 6.5% compared to 2009, and their expenses increased by an average of 7.4%.
- Sustainable leadership of major cities. Despite a significant increase in the number of tourists in small cities, the top 10 popular destinations practically do not change. London, Paris and Bangkok have been in the top three since 2010, with Bangkok in first place six times in the last seven years. New York City is also always in GDCI's top 10, with 13.6 million tourists visiting in 2019.
- Growth in the number of tourists traveling abroad from Asia-Pacific countries. In the cities of this region, the largest increase in the number of tourists traveling to abroad was observed - since 2009, the growth was 9.4%. For comparison, in Europe, which shows the second fastest growth rate of tourists, the same figure is 5.5%, and including growth is associated with an increase in the number of travelers from mainland China. Since 2009, it has risen by six positions and ranks second in the ranking of countries, from where more always go on trips to all 200 destinations that fell into the rating. Only the United States lost China in this.
If you look at the rating of cities by the volume of expenses of travelers, then Dubai is in the first place - there tourists spend an average of 553 US dollars a day. Mecca entered the top 10 in 2018 and remained in second place for the second year in a row. Bangkok completes the top three.
The 2019 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index differs in that it contains 10 years of data and identifies three key trends:
| № | City | Number of foreign tourists in 2018 (million) | Growth forecast in 2019 (million) | Average length of stay (number of nights) | Average expense per day (US $) |
| 1 | Bangkok | 22.78 | 3.34% | 4.8 | 184 |
| 2 | Paris | 19.10 | 2.24% | 2.5 | 296 |
| 3 | London | 19.09 | 3.74% | 5.8 | 148 |
| 4 | Dubai | 15.93 | 1.68% | 3.5 | 553 |
| 5 | Singapore | 14.67 | 4.0% | 4.2 | 272 |
| 6 | Kuala Lumpur | 13.79 | 9.87% | 5.7 | 142 |
| 7 | New York | 13.60 | 2.94% | 7.9 | 152 |
| 8 | Istanbul | 13.40 | 8.14% | 5.8 | 106 |
| 9 | Tokyo | 12.93 | 10.02% | 5.4 | 196 |
| 10 | Antalya | 12.41 | 8.14% | 14.0 | 44 |
| № | City | Expenses of foreign tourists in 2018 (billion, US dollars) | 2019 growth forecast | "'Average Expense per Day (USD)
|
| 1 | Dubai | 30.82 | 4.18% | 553 |
| 2 | Mecca | 20.09 | 7.94% | 135 |
| 3 | Bangkok | 20.03 | 8.67% | 184 |
| 4 | Singapore | 16.56 | 2.66% | 272 |
| 5 | London | 16.47 | 4.64% | 148 |
| 6 | New York | 16.43 | 2.93% | 152 |
| 7 | Paris | 14.06 | -0.78% | 296 |
| 8 | Tokyo | 13.77 | 12.74% | 196 |
| 9 | Palma de Mallorca | 12.69 | 3.17% | 233 |
| 10 | Phuket | 12.01 | 9.16% | 247 |
[[:Шаблон:Quote 'author = comments Carlos Menendez, Mastercard President of Business Development and Partnerships in International Markets]]
Notes
- ↑ International Tourism to Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2024
- ↑ International tourism reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2024
- ↑ WTTC reveal Paris as the World’s Most Powerful City Destination
- ↑ International tourism up 4% in 2021 but 72% behind 2019
- ↑ UN: Tourism industry lost $1 trillion due to coronavirus
- ↑ TOURISM BACK TO 1990 LEVELS AS ARRIVALS FALL BY MORE THAN 70%
- ↑ How Travel Will Change in 2020
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