International tourism has returned to near pre-Covid levels, with more than 1.4 billion people traveling abroad in 2024.
The latest figures marked 99% of the figures seen in 2019, the year before the global health crisis.
The tourism sector witnessed a major financial surge, contributing $1.9 trillion, with tourists spending an average of over $1,000 each.
Europe led the global tourism race, welcoming 747 million visitors despite ongoing geopolitical challenges in some regions. France emerged as the world’s most-visited country with 100 million tourists, closely followed by Spain with 98 million. Significant events such as the Summer Olympics, the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and D-Day commemorations contributed to France’s tourism boom.
Tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific reached 316 million, while 213 million people visited the Americas, 95 million traveled to the Middle East, and 74 million ventured to Africa.
Smaller countries also saw impressive gains, with Qatar seeing a 137% increase in tourists, driven by major investments in infrastructure like Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport, which earned global accolades in 2024.
However, overtourism became a buzzword in many popular destinations, with countries like Spain and Italy introducing measures to control the tourist influx. Spain witnessed protests against tourism, and cities like Venice and Florence in Italy implemented bans on large tour groups. As the tourism industry looks to the future, sustainability remains a key focus.
Experts urge the discovery of lesser-known destinations to prevent overtourism and maintain the balance between growth and sustainability as the industry progresses into 2025.
