International tourism is off to a good path to returning to pre-pandemic levels, as twice as many travellers were recorded in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows that the sector has continued recovering in 2023, reaching 80 per cent of international arrivals recorded in 2019 by the beginning of this year, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The number of travellers internationally recorded in the first three months of 2023 has more than doubled compared to those recorded during the same time in 2022, taking the total number of travelling tourists to 235 million.
The report further reveals that Southern Mediterranean Europe has reached pre-pandemic levels during this period, while Northern and Western Europe have approached those rates but have yet to exceed them.
“We must remain alert to challenges ranging from geopolitical insecurity, staffing shortages, and the potential impact of the cost-of-living crisis on tourism, and we must ensure tourism’s return delivers on its responsibilities as a solution to the climate emergency and as a driver of inclusive development,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, said in a statement.
International visitor spending was close to pre-pandemic levels by 64 per cent, while Europe recorded the highest levels of recovery rates – €520 billion in visitor spending representing 87 per cent of 2019 levels.
As per other regions, international tourism spending varied – from Africa reaching 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels to 70 per cent in the Middle East and another 68 per cent in South and North America. However, the most affected region was Asia, with only 28 per cent of pre-pandemic tourism spending being recovered in 2022.
UNWTO forecasts suggest that international arrivals will recover 80 per cent to 95 per cent of 2019 levels, with the strongest peak being recorded between May and August, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. The same forecast shows that this period can also surpass pre-pandemic levels.
Challenges that await international tourism and might impact the effective recovery of international tourism this year include high inflation and rising oil prices, which lead to higher costs of transport and accommodation.
Consequently, tourists can seek value for money and pick destinations that are closer to their home country. Uncertainty comes from the Russian aggression against Ukraine that started in 2022 and that has caused a spike in prices and other mounting geopolitical tensions, also continuing to represent downside risks.