UNWTO

UNWTO: Global tourism grows a moderate 4% in 2021 but remains far below pre-pandemic levels

Global tourism increased 4% in 2021 compared to 2020 (growing to 415 million versus 400 million). However, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) were still 72% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to preliminary estimates by UNWTO. This follows on from 2020, the worst year on record for tourism, when international arrivals decreased by 73%. […]

UNWTO: 2020 worst year in tourism history with 1 billion fewer international arrivals; prospects of a rebound in 2021 seem to dim

Global tourism suffered its worst year on record in 2020, with international arrivals dropping by 74% according to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Destinations worldwide welcomed 1 billion fewer international arrivals in 2020 than in the previous year, due to an unprecedented fall in demand and widespread travel restrictions. This compares […]

UNWTO: International tourism plunges 70% as travel restrictions impact all regions

Restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hit global tourism hard, with the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showing a 70% fall in international arrivals for the first eight months of 2020. According to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international arrivals plunged 81% in July and […]

More than 50% of global destinations ease travel restrictions

More than half of the destinations around the world (53%) have now started easing travel restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Though many remain cautious in view of the development of the pandemic, the seventh edition of the UNWTO “COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions: A Global […]

UNWTO: 100% of global destinations now have COVID-19 travel restrictions

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) today reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all destinations worldwide to introduce restrictions on travel, which represents the most severe restriction on international travel in history. No country has so far lifted restrictions introduced in response to the crisis. Following up on previous research, the latest data from the […]

UNWTO: Growth in international tourist arrivals continues to outpace the economy

International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) worldwide grew 4% in 2019 to reach 1.5 billion, based on data reported by destinations around the world, says the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. This represents the tenth consecutive year of growth. According to the first comprehensive report on global tourism numbers and trends of the new decade, 2019 […]

UNWTO: International tourist arrivals reach 1.4 billion two years ahead of forecasts

International tourist arrivals grew 6% in 2018, totaling 1.4 billion according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. UNWTO’s long term forecast issued in 2010 estimated the 1.4 billion mark would be reached in 2020, yet the “remarkable growth” of international arrivals in recent years has brought it two years ahead, says the organization.   […]

UNWTO/GTERC Report: Asia and the Pacific grows in importance for Global Tourism

Adding further credence to the IATA 20-year forecast released this week,  the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in partnership with the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC), presented its Asia Tourism Trends Report at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao (China) this week. The report shows Asia and the Pacific outperforming all world regions in […]

UNWTO: Global tourism arrivals highest since 2010 as tourism generates $4 billion a day worldwide

International tourist arrivals grew 7% in 2017, the highest increase since 2010, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s latest Tourism Highlights. Tourism is currently the world’s third-largest export sector, reaching US$1.6 trillion in 2017, says the report. International tourist arrivals reached a new record total of 1,323 million in 2017, some 84 million more […]

UNWTO: “Best tourism results in many years,” but U.S. decline drags down tourism numbers in North America

Destinations around the world welcomed 1.1 billion international tourists (1,12 m, up +7%) in the January to October 2017 period, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. This was 70 million more than in the same period of 2016. The strong tourism demand of the earlier months of 2017, including the Northern Hemisphere summer […]

UNWTO: Chinese tourists spent 12% more abroad in 2016

Outbound tourism from China, the world’s leading outbound market, continues to break records. Chinese tourists spent 12% more in 2016 than the year earlier, maintaining the trend of double-digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004, according to preliminary data by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. China’s international tourism spending grew by $11 […]

UNWTO: International tourists reach a record 1.2 billion in 2015; growth is forecast to slow slightly

International tourist arrivals reached a total of 1,184 million in 2015, up 4.4%, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. This translates into approximately 50 million more tourists (overnight visitors) traveling to international destinations around the world last year compared to 2014. This marks the 6th consecutive year of above-average growth, says UNWTO, with […]