UNWTO upbeat about tourism growth in first three months of 2023, also focuses on challenges ahead

International tourism is well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic levels, with twice as many people travelling during the first quarter of 2023 than in the same period of 2022, the world tourism body said in its report.

According to the report, overall, international arrivals reached 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in the first three months of 2023 with an estimated 235 million tourists travelling internationally. 

Revised data for 2022 showed over 960 million tourists travelling internationally last year, meaning two-thirds (66%) of pre-pandemic numbers were recovered.

According to the report, the Middle East saw the strongest performance as the only region exceeding 2019 arrivals (+15 per cent) and the first to recover pre-pandemic numbers in a full quarter.

Europe reached 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong intra-regional demand.

Africa reached 88 per cent and the Americas about 85 per cent of 2019 levels.

Asia and the Pacific notched up 54 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

According to a release by the UNWTO, this upward trend is set to accelerate now that most destinations, particularly China, have re-opened.

Said Secretary General Pololikashvili, “The start of the year has shown again tourism’s unique ability to bounce back. In many places, we are close to or even above pre-pandemic levels of arrivals.”
 

“However, we must remain alert to challenges ranging from geopolitical insecurity, staffing shortages, and the potential impact of the cost-of-living crisis on tourism,” he warned, “and we must ensure tourism’s return delivers on its responsibilities as a solution to the climate emergency and as a driver of inclusive development.”

The tourism body, in its release, said that the results of the first quarter of 2023 ‘are in line with UNWTO’s forward-looking scenarios for the year which project international arrivals to recover 80 per cent to 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.’

However, according to the release, tourism’s recovery also faces some challenges.

The report quoted the UNWTO Panel of Experts as saying that the economic situation remains the main factor weighing on the effective recovery of international tourism in 2023, with high inflation and rising oil prices translating into higher transport and accommodation costs.

As a result, tourists are expected to increasingly seek value for money and travel closer to home.

Uncertainty derived from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other mounting geopolitical tensions, also continue to represent downside risks, the experts said.