Page 6 - ASUTIL 2024 Edition

INSIDER

Total export revenues from
international tourism, including both
receipts and passenger transport, reached
US$1.7 trillion in 2023, about 96% of
pre-pandemic levels in real terms. Tourism
direct GDP recovered pre-pandemic levels,
reaching an estimated US$3.3 trillion in
2023, equivalent to 3% of global GDP.
Several destinations achieved
remarkable results in terms of receipts
in the first quarter of 2024 as compared
to 2019 levels based on available data,
including Serbia (+127%), Turkey (+82%),
Pakistan (+72%), Tanzania (+62%),
Portugal (+61%), Romania (+57%), Japan
(+53%), Mongolia (+50%), Mauritius
(+46%) and Morocco (+44%).
International tourism is expected to
recover completely in 2024 backed by
strong demand, enhanced air connectivity
and the continued recovery of China and
other major Asian markets.

China recovers its position as top spender in 2023 as Asia and the Pacific
reopens to tourism

China has recovered its position as top importance of the country as a source Emirates, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Japan,
spender on international tourism in 2023 market, while Italy rose from 10th to 7th Germany, Saudi Arabia, Macao (China),
as Asia and the Pacific consolidates its position. India and Mexico (which complete the top
recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. 15 list of tourism earners).
In 2022, the list of top spenders was headed France, Spain and USA top in arrivals Among the top earners, the UK
by the United States. France, Spain and France consolidated its position as jumped to the 3rd position from 5th pre-
USA took the top spots for most-visited the world’s most visited destination in pandemic, the United Arab Emirates moved
destinations, reports UN Tourism. 2023 with 100 million international tourist from 13th to 6th position, Turkey moved
Total export revenues from arrivals. Spain was second with 85 million, from 12th to 7th, Canada from 15th to
international tourism, including both followed by the United States (66 million), 9th, Saudi Arabia from 27th to 12th, and
receipts and passenger transport, reached Italy (57 million) and Turkey, which closed Mexico from 17th to 15th.
an estimated US$1.7 trillion in 2023, the top five with 55 million international Croatia (from 32nd to 25th), Morocco
about 96% of pre-pandemic levels in real tourists. (from 41st to 31st) and the Dominican
terms. Tourism direct GDP recovered Completing the top ten most visited Republic (43rd to 34th) also moved up in
pre-pandemic levels in 2023, reaching an destinations in 2023 are Mexico, the United the Top 50 ranking by receipts in 2023, as
estimated US$3.3 trillion, equivalent to 3% Kingdom, Germany, Greece and Austria. did Qatar (from 51st to 37th) and Colombia
of global GDP. Compared to before the pandemic, Italy, (50th to 44th).
Turkey, Mexico, Germany and Austria
Top Tourism Spenders in 2023 all rose one position, while the United Looking ahead to a full recovery globally
Chinese expenditure on travel abroad Kingdom rose from 10th to 7th and Greece in 2024
reached US$196.5 billion in 2023, ahead from 13th to 9th. As per the latest World Tourism
of the United States (US$150 billion), In terms of international tourism Barometer, in 2023 international tourist
Germany (US$112 billion), the United receipts, the United States was number one, arrivals recovered 89% of 2019 levels and
Kingdom (US$110 billion) and France earning US$176 billion in 2023, followed 97% in Q1 2024. UN Tourism’s projection
(US$49 billion). Making up the remainder by Spain (US$92 billion), the United for 2024 points to a full recovery of
of the top ten spenders for 2023 are Kingdom (US$74 billion), France (US$69 international tourism with arrivals growing
Canada, Italy, India, the Russian Federation billion) and Italy (US$56 billion). 2% above 2019 levels, backed by strong
and the Republic of Korea. Following the above, the destinations demand, enhanced air connectivity and
India jumped to 8th place, from earning the most from international the continued recovery of China and other
14th in 2019, confirming the growing tourism in 2023 include the United Arab major Asian markets.

ASUTIL Special Issue June 2024 6