France leads the world spending $1.9 trillion on tourism in 2024

Global tourism hits record numbers in 2024 with spending of $1.9 trillion

Global tourism in 2024 witnessed an unprecedented recovery after two years of major challenges posed by the Corona pandemic. Data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization showed that the number of international travelers reached record levels, reaching 1.4 billion travelers during the year. This growth was accompanied by spending exceeding $1.9 trillion, with a spending rate exceeding $1,000 per traveler.

Europe is the most visited destination and France is in the lead

The European continent takes the lead as the most attractive continent for tourists, as it received 747 million visitors in 2024. At the country level, France ranked first in the world with 100 million visitors, followed by Spain with 98 million visitors, which reflects the strength of the tourism sector despite regional challenges, including The Russian-Ukrainian war.

Asia Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East report promising numbers

The Asia-Pacific region received 316 million tourists, while the Americas were visited by 213 million people, and the Middle East was visited by 95 million. Among the countries that witnessed an increase in the number of tourist arrivals: Andorra, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Albania, and El Salvador.

Tourism returns to pre-pandemic levels

The World Tourism Organization confirmed that the year 2024 represents the return of the sector to pre-pandemic levels, as the number of international travelers reached 99% of their numbers in 2019, the year before the global Corona outbreak. As countries continue to develop their infrastructure and provide innovative tourism experiences, the sector appears to be moving towards a bright future that strengthens its role as a fundamental pillar of the global economy.