With the latest UN Tourism Data showing that the sector is on track to reach 96% recovery of pre-pandemic numbers by the end of the year, the 122nd Session of the Executive Council looked to the future, with investments and innovation high on the agenda. The Session welcomed representatives of 47 countries, including 21 Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Tourism, alongside key strategic partners from the private sector, civil society and international finance. Opening the session, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili welcomed the example set by Colombia in "betting on tourism" to provide a better future for the country, including for previously-marginalized groups. He said: "Colombia has chosen to invest in tourism, not in weapons or war, and as the only country to have hoste...
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Visa easing and more air capacity would help Experts convened by PATA also show that digitalisation, localisation, seamless travel payments and tourism aligned to values are redefining the new Asia Pacific tourism landscape New consumer preferences and habits have emerged in the first half of 2024 in an Asia Pacific tourism sector which is recovering from the pandemic years in an uneven manner. The post-Covid tourism surge from 2022 was initially powered by more affluent tourists seeking relaxation amid nature, user convenience, sustainable and authentic local tourism experiences, all enabled by heightened digitisation of travel. Those trends have since evolved. Travel experts speaking at the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s “Navigating the Path to Tourism Recovery” web...
Read MoreAsia and the Pacific reopens to tourism China has recovered its position as top spender on international tourism in 2023 as Asia and the Pacific consolidates its recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. In 2022, the list of top spenders was headed by the United States. France, Spain and USA took the top spots for most-visited destinations. Top Tourism Spenders in 2023 Chinese expenditure on travel abroad reached USD 196.5 billion in 2023, ahead of the United States (USD 150 billion), Germany (USD 112 billion), the United Kingdom (USD 110 billion) and France (USD 49 billion). Making up the top ten spenders for 2023 are Canada, Italy, India, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea. India jumped to 8th place, from 14th in 2019, confirming the growing importance of the cou...
Read MoreFollowing a strong 2023, international tourism is well on track to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024 According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, international tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals. The unleashing of remaining pent-up demand, increased air connectivity, and a stronger recovery of Asian markets and destinations, are expected to underpin a full recovery by the end of 2024. Middle East, Europe and Africa performed strongest in 2023 The latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer provides a comprehensive overview of the sector's performance in 2023, tracking recovery by global region, sub-region and destination. Key takeaways include: 1. The ...
Read MoreInternational tourism is on track to recover almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38% on the same months of 2022. The newest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer also shows: World destinations welcomed 22% more international tourists in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong Northern Hemisphere summer season. International tourist arrivals hit 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92% in July, the best month so far since the start of pandemic. Overall, tourism recovered 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-Septemb...
Read MoreNights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the European Union reached 96% of their pre-pandemic levels in 2022, demonstrating a near full recovery from the COVID-19 lockdown that slashed the bloc's tourism industry in 2020, Eurostat data showed on Tuesday. Following recovery from the subprime crisis, tourism in the EU grew sustainability between 2009 and 2019 before it became one of the most affected sectors hit by COVID in 2020. Sudersand beach on Fårö, is one of the nicest beaches on Gotland. Photo: Tina Axelsson/Image Bank Sweden International guests, from EU as well as non-EU countries, led the way with 53% more nights spent, while domestic trips increased by 30% compared with 2021 levels. "France, Italy and Germany each recorded more than 400 million nights s...
Read More# GDP contribution 5% off 2019 peak by the end of 2023 # Almost 22 million more Travel & Tourism jobs last year # International visitor spend up more than 80% The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) shows that the Travel & Tourism sector is closing in on its 2019 peak, recovering by more than 95%. In 2023, the sector is forecast to reach $9.5TN, just 5% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels when travel was at its highest. 34 countries have already exceeded 2019 levels. According to the research conducted by WTTC in collaboration with Oxford Economics, the global tourism body also forecasts that the sector will recover to 95% of the 2019 job level. A look back on last year Last year, despite the economic an...
Read MoreLeading a high-level delegation to the city of Hangzhou to join in the official re-opening, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, warmly welcomed the lifting of travel restrictions as a major boost to economic growth and social opportunity both in Asia and the Pacific and globally. According to UNWTO data, the pandemic cost destinations worldwide a combined US$270 billion in Chinese outbound tourist spending in 2020 and 2021 alone. The re-opening of borders therefore represents “the moment the world has been waiting for”, Pololikashvili noted. The UNWTO Secretary-General is the first UN Head of Agency to visit China since restrictions were lifted. China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping welcomed UNWTO’s support throughout the pandemic and for joining the official re-o...
Read MoreThe World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) has met to advance the fair and responsible recovery of the sector. Meeting in Madrid and guided by the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Committee explored the main topics of its working groups for the next four years (period of 2022-2025). The focus of the Committee will be on analysing the ethical aspects and impacts of the following tourism-related areas, namely, (1) Decent Work, Inclusive Growth & Community Empowerment, (2) Technology & Digital Platforms, (3) Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability, and (4) Social Sustainability & Intercultural Dialogues. These areas will include several issues to which the committee will pay specific attention. At UNWTO’s headquarters in Madrid,...
Read MoreWhen Stelios Zompanakis quit his job at Greece’s central bank to try his luck at boat racing, friends and family pleaded with him to reconsider. Nine years later, he spends summers on the “Ikigai,” a 53-foot yacht he named after the Japanese concept of finding happiness through a life of meaning. Weeklong holiday trips on his yacht around some of the lesser-known Greek islands — Milos, Sifnos, Serifos, Kythnos and many others — were booked up through October. Tourists atop the Areopagus hill look at the city of Athens as the sun sets , on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) “The demand is insane,” said Zompanakis, who recently paced barefoot around the teak-paneled deck to adjust the sail and check instrument panels as the boat swung past the ancient Temple of...
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