Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2023 EXCERPT

International tourism recovered 84% of pre-pandemic levels through July 2023

• International tourism recovered 84% of pre- • These results show international tourism remains
pandemic levels in the period January-July 2023 well on track to reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic
(-16% versus 2019) following a strong second levels in 2023 as projected by UNWTO in the
quarter and early part of the Northern Hemisphere January 2023 World Tourism Barometer.
summer season.
• Prospects for September-December 2023 point to
• Travel demand continued to show remarkable continued recovery, according to the latest UNWTO
resilience and sustained recovery, amid economic Confidence Index, though at a more moderate pace
and geopolitical challenges. following the peak travel season of June-August.
• After reaching 80% in Q1 2023, international tourist • The challenging economic environment could weigh
arrivals hit 85% of pre-pandemic levels in Q2 2023 on spending patterns over the remainder of the year,
and 90% in July 2023, backed by continued pent-up with tourists increasingly seeking value for money,
demand. travelling closer to home and making shorter trips.
• An estimated 700 million tourists travelled
internationally between January and July 2023,
about 43% more than in the same months of 2022, International Tourist Arrivals (% change over 2019)

though 16% fewer than in 2019. +20

20 2021 2022 Jan.-Jul. 2023*
• By regions, the Middle East saw the best results in
0
January-July 2023, with arrivals exceeding by 20%
pre-pandemic levels. Europe, the world’s largest -20 -9
-13
-8 -5
-16
destination region, reached 91% of pre-pandemic -20
-40 -29
levels, supported by robust intra-regional demand. -34 -33
-39

• Africa recovered 92% of pre-crisis visitors this -60

-58
-59 -63
seven-month period and the Americas 87%. In Asia -69
-80 -72 -72
and the Pacific arrivals climbed to 61% of pre-
pandemic levels. -100 -93
World Europe Asia and Americas Africa Middle
• By subregions, North Africa (+8%), Central America the Pacific East
(+2%) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+1%)
Source: UNWTO * Provisional data
exceeded pre-pandemic levels in January-July
2023.

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Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2023 EXCERPT

About the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer

The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is a publication of the
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that monitors short-
term tourism trends on a regular basis to provide global
tourism stakeholders with up-to-date analysis on
international tourism.
The information is updated several times a year and includes
an analysis of the latest data on tourism destinations
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United (inbound tourism) and source markets (outbound tourism).
Nations specialized agency mandated with the promotion of The Barometer also includes three times a year a Confidence
responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Index based on the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts
UNWTO’s membership includes 159 countries, 6 Associate survey, which provides an evaluation of recent performance
Members, two Permanent Observers, and over 500 Affiliate and short-term prospects on international tourism.
Members representing the private sector, educational The UNWTO Secretariat wishes to express its gratitude to
institutions, tourism associations and local tourism those who have contributed to the production of this UNWTO
authorities. World Tourism Barometer, in particular to institutions that
Copyright © 2023 World Tourism Organization supplied data, and to the members of the UNWTO Panel of
C/ Poeta Joan Maragall 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain Tourism Experts for their valuable feedback and analysis.

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer This report was prepared by the UNWTO Tourism Market
ISSN: 1728-9246 Intelligence and Competitiveness Department, under the
coordination of the Executive Director, Zoritsa Urosevic, and
Published and printed by the World Tourism Organization,
the supervision of Sandra Carvão, Director of the
Madrid, Spain - First printing: 2023 (version 20/09/23)
Department. Authors include (in alphabetical order):
All rights reserved.
Fernando Alonso, Michel Julian and Javier Ruescas. Data
The designations employed and the presentation of material was compiled from the Tourism Market Intelligence Database
in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinions and the Tourism Statistics Database based on official country
whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World sources.
Tourism Organization (UNWTO) concerning the legal status
For more information including copies of previous issues,
of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities or
please visit: www.e-unwto.org/loi/wtobarometereng.
concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
We welcome your comments and suggestions at
All UNWTO publications are protected by copyright.
barom@unwto.org.
Therefore and unless otherwise specified, no part of a
UNWTO publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm, scanning,
without prior permission in writing. UNWTO encourages Data collection for this issue was closed mid-September
dissemination of its work and is pleased to consider 2023.
permissions, licensing, and translation requests related to
UNWTO publications. For permission to photocopy UNWTO The next issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer is
material, please refer to the UNWTO website at scheduled to be published in November 2023.
www.unwto.org/publications.
The contents of this issue may be quoted, provided the Pages 1-6 of this document constitute the Excerpt of the
source is given accurately and clearly. Distribution or UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. The full document is
reproduction in full is permitted for own or internal use only. available free of charge for UNWTO Members and
Please do not post electronic copies on publicly accessible subscribers from the UNWTO elibrary at www.e-unwto.org.
websites. UNWTO encourages you to include a link to This release is available in English, while the Statistical
www.unwto.org/market-intelligence. Annex is provided in English, French and Spanish.
World Tourism Organization
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info@unwto.org - www.unwto.org

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 EXCERPT Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2023

Inbound tourism

International tourism maintains strong momentum with 84% recovery up to July 2023

• International tourism recovered 84% of pre- • The month of July was the busiest so far, with 145
pandemic levels in the first seven months of 2023 million international travellers crossing international
(-16% versus 2019) following a strong second borders, about 20% of the seven-month total.
quarter and early part of the Northern Hemisphere
• An estimated 700 million tourists travelled
summer season.
internationally between January and July 2023, an
• Travel demand continued to show remarkable increase of 43% over the same months of 2022,
resilience in the face of economic and geopolitical though 16% fewer than in 2019.
challenges.
• Europe welcomed 375 million of those travellers,
• After reaching 80% in Q1 2023, international tourist 54% of the world total.
arrivals (overnight visitors) hit 85% of pre-pandemic
• This data shows international tourism well on track
levels in Q2 2023 and 90% in July 2023, due to
to reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023,
continued pent-up demand and very few remaining
as projected in the January 2023 issue of the
travel restrictions.
UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

International tourist arrivals in 2021, 2022 and Scenarios for 2023 (monthly change over 2019, %)
20
2021 2022 2023*

0
May

May

May
Sep

Aug
Aug

Sep
Mar

Nov
Dec

Mar

Nov

Aug
Sep
Dec

Feb
Mar

Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb

Apr

Jun

Feb
Oct

Jan

Apr

Jun

Oct

Jan

Apr

Jun

Oct
Jul

Jul

Jul
-10
-13
-14
-20 -17
-69% -20 -19 -19
(monthly change vs. 2019, %)

Annual change -24 -22 -24 -22

(over 2019) -26 -25
-31
-40 -36

-42
-34% -16%
-50 Annual change Jan-Jul 2023
-54 (over 2019) (over 2019)
-60 -56
-58 -57 -57
-59
-62 -64
Scenario 1: -5% Prospects
for 2023
-80 Scenario 2: -20%
-78
(change
-82 Actual data over 2019)
-86 -87 -85 -86

-100

Source: UNWTO (Data as of September 2023)

* Data for 2023 is preliminary and based on estimates for destinations which have not yet reported results.

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Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2023 EXCERPT

• Northern Europe, the Caribbean (both -5%) and

Arrivals in the Middle East exceeded by 20% pre-
South Asia (-7%) came close to recovering their
pandemic levels
2019 levels.
• The Middle East saw the best results across regions
in January-July 2023, with arrivals exceeding by Many destinations reported arrivals well above
20% pre-pandemic levels. The Middle East is the pre-crisis levels
only world region to surpass 2019 levels this period,
• According to available data, several destinations
with several destinations enjoying extraordinary
reported double-digit growth in January-July 2023
results, among which Qatar (+95%), Saudi Arabia
compared to the same months of 2019, including
(+58%) and Jordan (+23%).
Qatar (+95%) where arrivals almost doubled, Saudi
• Europe, the world’s largest destination region, Arabia (+58%), Albania (+56%), El Salvador (+32%),
reached 91% of pre-pandemic levels in January-July Armenia (+30%), Ethiopia (+28%), Jordan and
2023, supported by robust intra-regional demand Colombia (both +23%).
and travel from the United States. According to the
• Tanzania (+19%), the Dominican Republic,
US National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), US
Honduras and Serbia (all +17%) also enjoyed strong
travel to Europe grew 43% through June (compared
growth through July, as did Morocco (+15%),
to 2022) accounting for 20% of total US overseas
Montenegro (+14%), Iceland (+13%), Guatemala
travel.
(+12%), Portugal (+11%), United Arab Emirates and
• In Europe, some of the strongest results this period French Polynesia (both +10%).
were reported by Albania (+56% over 2019),
• The destinations reporting the highest growth in
Andorra (+31%), Armenia (+30%), Liechtenstein
international tourism receipts during the first six to
(+19%) and Serbia (+17%).
seven months of 2023 were Pakistan (+115%),
• Africa recovered 92% of pre-crisis arrivals this Albania (+82%), Montenegro (+77%), Türkiye
seven-month period, with Ethiopia (+28%), Tanzania (+75%), Romania (+76%), North Macedonia
(+19%) and Morocco (+15%) by far exceeding their (+56%), Portugal (+40%), Ireland (+37%) and
respective pre-pandemic levels in January-July Colombia (+31%), among others.
2023.
• Strong demand for international travel was seen
• Arrivals in the Americas reached 87% of 2019 from several large source this period, with many
numbers this period, led by El Salvador (+32%), exceeding the levels of 2019. The United States and
Colombia (+23%), the Dominican Republic and Germany both spent 11% more on outbound travel
Honduras (both +17%) among other strong than in the same months of 2019, while Italy spent
performers. 15% more. International tourism expenditure also
exceeded pre-pandemic levels in Scandinavian
• International tourism is experiencing a rapid
countries Norway (+28%), Sweden (+9%) and
recovery in Asia and the Pacific where arrivals
Denmark (+7%).
climbed to 61% of pre-pandemic levels this period
(up from 54% in Q1 2023) after the reopening of • The sustained recovery is also reflected in the
many destinations and source markets earlier this tourism industry indicators. According to the
year. Maldives (+8%) and Mongolia (+4%) are some UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker, both
Asia Pacific destinations that recovered 2019 levels. international air capacity and passenger demand
recovered about 84% of pre-pandemic levels
• The strong results in January-July 2023 are
through June 2023 (IATA). Hotel bookings doubled
confirmed by the UNWTO Panel of Experts, of which
in January-August 2023 compared to the same
63% believe tourism performance in May-August
period last year (Sojern). Global occupancy rates in
2023 was better (46%) or much better (17%) than in
accommodation establishments reached 70% in
the previous periods.
August, slightly above the 66% rate in August 2022
• By subregions, North Africa (+8%), Central America (based on STR data).
(+2%) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+1%)
exceeded pre-pandemic levels in January-July
2023.

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 EXCERPT Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2023

Recovery momentum expected to continue in The economic environment remains a major

September-December 2023 challenge
• The latest UNWTO Confidence Index shows positive • The challenging economic environment continues to
prospects for September-December 2023, with a be an important factor for the effective recovery of
score of 126 on a scale of 0 to 200, though slightly international tourism in 2023, according to the Panel
below the evaluation of May-August (132). of Experts.
• International tourism is expected to continue to • Persisting inflation and rising oil prices have
recover through December 2023 driven by translated into higher transport and accommodation
remaining pent-up demand and increased air costs. The combination of inflation and rising interest
connectivity, though at a more moderate pace rates continue to put pressure on household budgets
following the summer peak travel season. and confidence levels, and increase the cost of
living.
• While an increasing number of destinations have
reached pre-pandemic levels or are coming close, • This could weigh on spending patterns over the
many have yet to recover those numbers, in remainder of the year, with tourists increasingly
particular the larger ones. seeking value for money, travelling closer to home
and making shorter trips, in response to elevated
• Available data shows a total of 40 world destinations
prices and the overall economic challenges.
recovered pre-pandemic visitors in January-July
2023, including both large and smaller destinations, • The International Monetary Fund’s latest World
among which several islands. These countries Economic Outlook (July 2023 update) indicates that
represent 16% of the world’s international arrivals the global recovery is slowing amid widening
(as of 2019). divergences among economic sectors and regions.
Global growth is projected to fall from an estimated
• The reopening of China and other Asian markets is
3.5% in 2022 to 3.0% in 2023. While the forecast is
expected to continue boosting travel in the region
slightly higher than in the April WEO, it remains weak
and to other parts of the world. On 10 August, China
by historical standards.
announced the resumption of outbound group tour
services to a third batch of 78 countries, including • Interest rate hikes by central banks to fight inflation
the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, continue to weigh on economic activity according to
India and most European countries. The number of the WEO report. Global inflation is expected to fall
countries has expanded from 60 in April to 138 in from 8.7% in 2022 to 6.8% in 2023, though there are
August. However, the recovery of international travel risks that levels remain high or even rise.
to and from China has been hampered by still limited
• Uncertainty derived from the Russian aggression
flight connectivity and visa backlogs.
against Ukraine and other mounting geopolitical
• Travel from the United States to Asia has more than tensions, as well as the resurgence of COVID-19
tripled through June 2023 (compared to 2022) cases, also continue to represent downside risks.
according to the US NTTO.
• The extreme weather-related events occurred over
• Looking ahead, some 58% of UNWTO Panel experts recent months as well as the critical challenges of
believe international tourism will not return to 2019 managing increasing tourism flows underline the
levels this year, of which 37% point to 2024 and 21% need to build a more inclusive, sustainable and
to 2025 or later. Yet, this share has decreased resilient sector.
slightly compared to the May survey (61%) showing
that a larger number of destinations has achieved
pre-pandemic levels (27% compared to 11% in
May).

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Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2023 EXCERPT

International Tourist Arrivals by (Sub)region

Monthly/ quarterly data series

Share Change (%) Change (%)*

(millions) (%) vs. previous year² vs. 2019 2023 versus 2022² 2023 versus 2019
2019 2020 2021 2022* 2022* 20/19 21/20 22/21* 21/19 22/19* YTD Q1 Q2 Jun. Jul. YTD Q1 Q2 Jun. Jul.

World 1464 407 458 969 100 -72.2 12.7 111.5 -68.7 -33.8 42.9 85 33 26 17 -15.6 -19.5 -14.8 -13.5 -10.4
Advanced economies¹ 775 221 240 540 55.7 -71.5 8.9 124.7 -69.0 -30.3 38.0 76 40 20 15 -13.1 11.2 7.7 -12.7 -8.5
Emerging economies¹ 688 186 218 429 44.3 -73.0 17.1 96.9 -68.3 -37.6 49.4 85 28 35 20 -18.6 -17.6 -12.1 -14.4 -13.1

By UNWTO regions:

Europe 742.1 239.6 301.3 594.9 61.4 -67.7 25.7 97.5 -59.4 -19.8 20.3 51 15 9 5 -8.8 -9.5 -9.1 -10.7 -7.2
Northern Europe 81.9 23.7 21.9 70.0 7.2 -71.1 -7.3 219.5 -73.2 -14.5 22.3 79 11 5 1 -4.6 -5.1 -5.5 -6.3 -2.3
Western Europe 205.1 83.5 87.6 168.9 17.4 -59.3 4.9 92.8 -57.3 -17.6 15.5 55 9 1 -6 -10.5 -9.1 -11.5 -15.0 -10.7
Central/Eastern Eur. 150.9 44.1 52.9 90.8 9.4 -70.8 20.1 71.7 -64.9 -39.8 26.9 42 25 21 12 -29.2 -27.9 -29.8 -30.3 -30.0
Southern/Medit. Eur. 304.2 88.4 138.9 265.1 27.3 -70.9 57.1 90.9 -54.3 -12.8 20.9 45 17 12 11 0.6 -0.1 0.3 -1.8 2.3
- of which EU-27 539.0 182.7 222.3 443.1 45.7 -66.1 21.7 99.3 -58.8 -17.8 18.6 52 13 6 3 -7.5 -8.3 -7.7 -10.5 -6.3

Asia and the Pacific 360.1 59.1 24.8 102.3 10.6 -83.6 -58.0 311.7 -93.1 -71.6 241 455 197 149 135 -39.3 -46.9 -36.2 -32.0 -25.1
North-East Asia 170.3 20.3 10.9 19.2 2.0 -88.1 -46.4 76.8 -93.6 -88.7 562 483 563 565 736 -55.0 -65.6 -50.8 -46.2 -36.8
South-East Asia 138.6 25.5 3.3 48.5 5.0 -81.6 -87.2 ↑ -97.7 -65.0 273 ↑ 190 117 90 -27.8 -35.0 -23.5 -21.2 -18.0
Oceania 17.5 3.6 0.8 6.8 0.7 -79.2 -79.1 790.1 -95.6 -61.3 179 490 113 81 71 -29.6 -35.2 -25.4 -23.4 -23.2
South Asia 33.8 9.8 10.0 27.8 2.9 -71.1 2.1 178.8 -70.5 -17.7 38 100 16 5 -4 -6.7 -9.9 -7.8 2.0 7.1

Americas 219.3 69.6 81.7 156.2 16.1 -68.3 17.4 91.2 -62.7 -28.8 34.8 60 22 20 19 -12.7 -12.7 -13.5 -13.3 -10.5
North America 146.6 46.5 57.2 102.0 10.5 -68.3 23.1 78.3 -61.0 -30.4 31.7 52 22 21 20 -15.4 -14.7 -16.6 -16.1 -13.7
Caribbean 26.3 10.3 14.5 22.5 2.3 -61.0 41.1 55.3 -44.9 -14.4 18.5 35 9 7 4 -4.6 -7.6 -3.6 -0.7 2.5
Central America 10.9 3.1 4.7 9.3 1.0 -71.6 51.1 97.6 -57.1 -15.3 29.0 43 19 19 23 1.7 -2.7 3.9 6.2 9.1
South America 35.4 9.8 5.3 22.4 2.3 -72.4 -45.7 321.8 -85.0 -36.9 72.8 138 40 30 29 -12.8 -12.9 -13.3 -16.4 -10.6

Africa 69.1 18.7 19.6 46.6 4.8 -72.9 5.1 137.2 -71.5 -32.5 56.7 109 47 34 17 -8.4 -10.4 -6.6 -6.0 -8.2
North Africa 25.6 5.6 6.6 19.1 2.0 -78.2 17.9 190.5 -74.4 -25.5 69.6 181 63 39 14 7.6 9.3 12.8 10.7 -2.6
Subsaharan Africa 43.4 13.1 13.1 27.5 2.8 -69.8 -0.4 110.4 -69.9 -36.6 45.4 74 33 27 20 -20.5 -21.6 -21.0 -20.7 -15.7

Middle East 73.0 19.8 30.9 69.4 7.2 -72.9 55.9 124.7 -57.7 -4.9 41.5 64 37 56 3 20.3 25.8 18.0 38.4 10.3

Memorandum³
ASEAN 138.5 25.4 3.2 48.5 5.0 -81.6 -87.2 ↑ -97.7 -65.0 ↑ ↑ 190 117 90 -27.8 -35.0 -23.5 -21.2 -18.0
G20 1000 300 348 711 73.3 -70.0 16.1 104.0 -65.2 -28.9 113 70 23 18 11 -14.3 -17.0 -14.3 -13.3 -9.9
GCC 47.7 13.5 18.3 47.7 4.9 -71.7 35.5 160.9 -61.7 0.0 161 69 46 89 0 34.0 41.0 29.5 66.0 22.6
LDCs 36.7 10.4 7.9 17.1 1.8 -71.6 -24.5 117.5 -78.6 -53.4 139 181 91 56 53 -30.7 -35.4 -28.4 -25.5 -22.5
LLDCs 50.6 12.0 12.8 30.0 3.1 -76.3 6.9 134.1 -74.7 -40.7 163 143 54 36 23 -21.8 -23.2 -21.3 -23.4 -19.5
SIDS 43.9 10.5 13.5 35.3 3.6 -76.1 28.4 162.1 -69.4 -19.7 163 109 42 29 23 3.8 -2.2 6.7 7.7 13.7

Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) (Data as collected by UNWTO, September 2023)
* Provisional data
¹ Classification based on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
² Arrows (↑) indicate percentage change above 1000. (See Methodological Notes)
³ ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, G20: Group of Twenty, GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council,
LDCs: Least Developed Countries, LLDCs: Landlocked Developing Countries, SIDS: Small Island Developing States. (See Methodological Notes)
See box in page 'Annex-1' for explanation of abbreviations and symbols used.

For regularly updated data, please check the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker: https://www.unwto.org/unwto-tourism-recovery-tracker

6
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