Bogota.– The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) published its latest World Barometer where it estimates that 975 million tourists traveled internationally between January and September 2023, which represents an increase of 38% compared to the same months in 2022.
If this projection is fulfilled, the global tourism industry would close the year with 90% of the levels prior to the 2020 pandemic, assuming a significant recovery.
In this regard, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented: “The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, and that many destinations have reached or even surpassed pre-pandemic arrivals and revenues. This is essential for destinations, companies and communities in which the sector is an important livelihood.”
Among other notable data from the report, the following stand out:
- Destinations around the world welcomed 22% more international tourists in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong summer season in the northern hemisphere.
- International tourist arrivals reached 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92% in July, the best month so far since the start of the pandemic.
- Overall, tourism recovered to 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023. That puts the sector on track to recover nearly 90% by the end of the year.
- International tourism revenue could reach $1.4 billion in 2023, around 93% of the $1.5 billion earned by destinations in 2019.
As for the Americas, arrivals reached 88% of 2019 figures in this period, as the region benefited from strong US demand, particularly to Caribbean destinations where Cancún, Punta Cana, Curacao, among others, stand out. others.
Nicolás Zorro for