Hey there, young explorers! Guess what? The world is opening up again, and people are traveling more than ever! According to the United Nations tourism agency, almost as many people traveled in the first nine months of 2024 as they did before COVID-19 hit in 2019. That’s amazing news for everyone who loves to discover new places! 🗺️
Almost Back to Normal
From January to September 2024, about 1.1 billion tourists traveled internationally. That’s 98% of the number of travelers in the same period in 2019. By the end of this year, experts expect a “full recovery” in tourism. Isn’t that exciting? 🎉
Where Are People Going?
Different parts of the world are seeing lots of visitors:
- Middle East, Europe, and Africa: These regions have even more tourists than in 2019! The Middle East saw a 29% increase, Europe 1%, and Africa 6%.
- Asia-Pacific: Places like Japan, Australia, and other countries in Asia and the Pacific reached 85% of their 2019 tourist numbers.
- The Americas: Countries in North and South America reached 97% of their 2019 levels.
Big Boost in Spending 💰
With more travelers, there’s also more spending. Many countries saw tourists spending even more money than before the pandemic:
- Spain: Tourist spending went up by 36%.
- United Kingdom: A whopping 43% increase in earnings from tourism!
- France: A 27% rise.
- Italy: Up by 26%.
Why Is This Important?
More travel means more jobs and helps local businesses. Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the UN Tourism agency, said that this strong growth is excellent news for economies around the world. When people travel, they support hotels, restaurants, tour guides, and more. It’s a win-win for everyone! 😊
Ready to Explore?
So, where would you like to go next? Maybe visit the pyramids in Egypt, see the Eiffel Tower in France, or explore the Great Barrier Reef in Australia? The world is full of amazing places just waiting for you! Start dreaming about your next adventure. 🌟
Reference(s):
International tourism set to return to pre-pandemic levels: UN agency
cgtn.com
