September results of UNWTO World Tourism Barometer confirm strong signs of recovery

26-09-22

International tourism continued to show strong signs of recovery, with arrivals reaching 57% of pre-pandemic levels in the first seven months of 2022. This means that the sector recovered almost 60% of pre-pandemic levels. The steady recovery reflects the strong pent-up demand for international travel, as well as the easing or lifting of travel restrictions to date (86 countries had no COVID-19 related restrictions as of 19 September 2022).

Europe and the Middle East showed the fastest recovery in January-July 2022, with arrivals reaching 74% and 76% of 2019 levels, respectively.  

International arrivals data by region in 2022 compared to the first seven months of 2021 are very promising:

• Europe: +190%.

• Middle East: +287%.

• The Americas: +103%.

• Asia and the Pacific: +165%.

• Africa: +171%.

The ongoing recovery is also visible in outbound tourism spending in the main markets, despite significant operational and manpower challenges in tourism businesses and infrastructure, especially at airports; and the unstable economic situation, exacerbated by the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine.

According to experts, the economic environment remains the main factor obstructing the recovery of international tourism and they foresee a possible return of international arrivals to 2019 levels in 2024 or later.

For more information, please find attached the "UNWTO World Tourism Barometer - September 2022. Click here.