Global Tourism Market: International Arrivals and Receipts
UN Tourism data: about 790 million international arrivals in the first seven months of 2024, 11% more than 2023 and only 4% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
- Updated October 1, 2026
- 6 min read
- 1 source
- Global
Executive Summary
Around 790 million people travelled internationally in the first seven months of 2024, about 11% more than 2023 and only 4% below 2019, according to UN Tourism. In the first half of 2024, 67 of 120 destinations with monthly data had fully recovered their 2019 arrival levels. Receipts recovered even faster: 47 of 63 reporting countries had surpassed their 2019 totals in local currencies. Qatar, Albania, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia and Tanzania were among the strongest performers against 2019.
Key Numbers
- International arrivals Jan-Jul 2024
- ~790M[1]
- About 790 million international tourist arrivals in the first seven months of 2024
- Destinations recovered
- 67 of 120[1]
- Destinations with monthly data that had recovered 2019 arrival numbers in H1 2024
- Receipts recovered
- 47 of 63[1]
- Countries that had recovered pre-pandemic tourism receipts in H1 2024 (local currencies, current prices)
Data Tables
Change in international tourist arrivals in January-July 2024 compared with the same months of 2019.
| Destination | Change vs. 2019 |
|---|---|
| Qatar | +147% |
| Albania | +93% |
| El Salvador | +81% |
| Saudi Arabia | +73% |
| Republic of Moldova (through June) | +50% |
| Tanzania (through June) | +49% |
Overview
The latest UN Tourism (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer says around 790 million people travelled internationally in the first seven months of 2024 [1]. That is about 11% more than the same period of 2023 and only 4% below 2019 - the pre-pandemic benchmark [1]. UN Tourism said results were in line with its projection of a full recovery of international arrivals in 2024, despite ongoing economic and geopolitical risks [1].
Recovery by Destination
In the first half of 2024, 67 of 120 destinations with monthly or quarterly data had recovered their 2019 arrival numbers [1]. The strongest performers for January-July 2024 against the same months of 2019 were [1]:
- Qatar: +147%
- Albania: +93%
- El Salvador: +81%
- Saudi Arabia: +73%
- Republic of Moldova: +50% (through June)
- Tanzania: +49% (through June)
Tourism Receipts
Receipts have come back even faster than arrivals in many places. UN Tourism reports that 47 of 63 countries with available data had recovered pre-pandemic receipts in the first six months of 2024, in local currencies and current prices [1].
Top performers for H1 2024 against the same months of 2019 included Albania (+128%) and Serbia (+126%), where receipts more than doubled, followed by Tajikistan (+85%), Pakistan (+76%), Montenegro (+70%) and North Macedonia [1].
Outlook
Methodology
This report is based on the UN Tourism (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer, which is UN Tourism's regular statistical update [1]. International tourist arrivals count overnight visitors to a country; day visitors are excluded. Receipts figures are reported in local currencies to avoid exchange-rate distortions and are compared with the same period of 2019 at current prices [1]. Receipts coverage (63 countries) is smaller than arrivals coverage (120 destinations) because fewer countries report receipts at this frequency [1].
Sources
- [1]
International Tourist Arrivals hit 96% of pre-pandemic levels through July 2024 / UN Tourism (UNWTO) / 2024 / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
Figures are reproduced from the publishers above. Calculations marked as our own are derived from these figures. Always check the original source before using a number.
Related Reports
Global Trade: WTO Merchandise and Services Trade Outlook 2026-2027
WTO forecasts world merchandise trade volume growth slowing from 4.6% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026, with services trade at 4.8%. Scenarios and Q1 2026 data.
Global GDP and Economic Growth: IMF Projections for 2026 and 2027
IMF July 2026 projections: world growth of 3.0% in 2026, with advanced vs emerging economies, the US, China, India, the euro area and regions compared.
Global Employment and Labour Markets: Jobs Gap, Informality and Working Poverty
ILO Employment and Social Trends 2026 data: a 408 million global jobs gap, 2.1 billion informal workers and nearly 300 million in extreme working poverty.
Global Migration: International Migrants, Remittances and Displacement
IOM World Migration Report 2024 data: 281 million international migrants, USD 831 billion in remittances in 2022 and 117 million people displaced.