International tourism in 2023 approaches pre-pandemic levels

Archived material. Last modified on the old website: 2023-09-22. Prices, dates and terms have been preserved from the original and may be outdated.

International tourism continues to recover from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to UNWTO.

During the first seven months of 2023, tourism recovery gained significant momentum in all regions of the world thanks to growing demand for international travel. In particular, the recovery of the international sector was most notable in regions such as the Middle East, Europe and Africa:

The Middle East recorded the fastest recovery, with growth of 20 percent in January–July.
Europe reached 91 percent of pre-pandemic tourism levels thanks to strong intra-regional demand and increased travel from the USA.
Africa recovered 92 percent of international tourists, and the Americas 87 percent.
Recovery in the Asia-Pacific region was observed at 61%.

In the first half of 2023, 700 million tourists travelled around the world, 43 percent more than in the previous year. July also broke a record for the number of travellers, reaching 145 million tourists.

According to UNWTO experts’ conclusions, the difficult economic situation remains an important factor in the recovery of international tourism in 2023. Rising inflation and oil prices have increased transport and accommodation costs, which may affect tourist spending and encourage travellers to choose more affordable, shorter trips closer to home.

International tourism is forecast to reach between 80 and 95 percent of its previous pre-pandemic level in 2023.