International tourist arrivals more than doubled in 2022 over the previous year and should reach pre-pandemic levels in 2023, according to the UN’s tourism agency, thanks to the relaxation of travel restrictions, particularly in China.

There were 917 million global tourist arrivals last year, up from 455 million in 2021, the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization said in a report, calling it “stronger than expected results”.

The UN agency projects that by 2023, the number of international arrivals might have increased by between 80 and 95 per cent, even though it was still only 63 per cent of the level seen in 2019 when the Covid-19 epidemic struck.

“A new year brings more reason for optimism for global tourism,”

Zurab Pololikashvili, the body’s secretary general said in a statement.

Higher International Tourists expected from Asia Pacific from 2023

According to the report, as more destinations and markets open up, pent-up demand, notably from Asia and the Pacific, will support the consolidation of the recovery in international tourism in 2023.

“In the short term, the resumption of travel from China is likely to benefit Asian destinations in particular,” it added.

“At the same time, robust demand from the United States, backed by a strong US dollar, will continue to benefit destinations in the region and beyond. Europe, in particular, will benefit.”

Under Beijing’s draconian Covid limitations, which virtually closed China’s borders for three years before they were restored earlier this month, travel to and from China drastically decreased from 2019 levels.

In the Asian tourism sector, where nations from Thailand to Japan had relied on China as their main supplier of international tourists, the limitations had left a gaping void.

France and Germany, India and Saudi Arabia posted “strong” spending numbers last year

Analysts predict that Chinese airlines will likely significantly increase their capacity beginning at the end of March when the summer scheduling season begins.

China was the world’s largest outbound tourist market in 2019 and the removal of its virus travel restrictions “is a significant and much-welcomed2 step to the recovery of the tourism sector,” the report said.

However, the UN body issued a warning that the sector’s recovery in 2023 would be hampered by rising inflation and interest rates, worries about a global recession, and the “uncertainty derived from the Russian assault against Ukraine.”

“Tourists are expected to increasingly seek value for money and travel close to home in response to the challenging economic environment,” it added.

Strong Spending

Due in part to a “particularly strong” summer season, Europe, the most well-liked travel destination region in the world, saw 585 million arrivals last year, or roughly 80% of its pre-pandemic level.

However, due to more stringent pandemic-related limitations, Asia and the Pacific region only reached around 23% of pre-pandemic tourist levels while Africa and the Americas only reached about 65 percent.

The majority of locations saw “notable increases” in their foreign tourism earnings as a result of more people taking longer vacations, being willing to spend more on travel, and inflation-related price rises.

Both established markets like France and Germany and developing ones like Saudi Arabia and India reported “high” spending figures in 2017.

Several places, like Mexico, Portugal, and Romania, even recorded tourist spending levels higher than they were prior to the pandemic.

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