INTERNATIONAL. Tourism arrivals worldwide reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The UN agency’s latest World Tourism Barometer showed that around 235 million tourists travelled internationally in Q1, more than double the figure in the same period last year.
In related news, revised data for 2022 shows that over 960 million tourists travelled internationally last year, a recovery to 66% of pre-pandemic numbers.
By region in the first quarter, the Middle East delivered the strongest performance as the only region exceeding 2019 arrivals (+15%) and the first to recover pre-pandemic numbers in a full quarter.
Europe reached 90% of pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong intra-regional demand. Africa reached 88% and the Americas about 85% of 2019 levels.
Asia and the Pacific accelerated the recovery that began last year with 54% of pre-pandemic levels, but this upward trend is set to accelerate now that most destinations, particularly China, have re-opened, the agency noted.
The UNWTO also released encouraging data about recovery by sub-region and by destination: Southern Mediterranean Europe and North Africa recovered to pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023, while Western Europe, Northern Europe, Central America and the Caribbean all came close to reaching those levels.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The start of the year has shown again tourism’s unique ability to bounce back. In many places, we are close to or even above pre-pandemic levels of arrivals. However, 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.”
International tourism receipts grew back to hit the US$1 trillion mark in 2022, growing +50% in real terms compared to 2021, driven by the important rebound in international travel.
International visitor spending reached 64% of pre-pandemic levels (-36% compared to 2019, measured in real terms). By regions, Europe enjoyed the best results in 2022 with nearly US$550 billion in tourism receipts or 87% of pre-pandemic levels. Africa recovered 75% of its pre-pandemic receipts, the Middle East 70% and the Americas 68%. Due to prolonged border shutdowns, Asian destinations earned about 28%.
The Q1 2023 results are in line with UNWTO’s forward-looking scenarios for the year which project international arrivals to recover 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels. UNWTO’s Panel of Experts expressed their confidence in a strong peak season (May-August) in the Northern Hemisphere, reflected in the latest UNWTO Confidence Index which indicates performance for the period is on track to be even better than 2022.
However, tourism’s recovery also faces some challenges, said UNWTO. According to the UNWTO Panel of Experts, the economic situation remains the main factor weighing on the effective recovery of international tourism in 2023, with high inflation and rising oil prices translating into higher transport and accommodation costs.
As a result, tourists are expected to increasingly seek value for money and travel closer to home. Uncertainty derived from the Russian aggression against Ukraine and other mounting geopolitical tensions, also continue to represent downside risks, UNWTO added. 
