Tourism recovered. Its map changed.

By 2024, some regions had moved well beyond pre-pandemic visitor numbers while others were still catching up.

GDS Research Desk
5 November 2026 · 2 min read

The data, visualised2024 versus 2019 · August 2025 reporting

One recovery, five different paths

International tourist arrivals in 2024 · 2019 = 100

Middle East141 % of 2019

Africa107 % of 2019

Europe102 % of 2019

Americas99 % of 2019

Asia & Pacific88 % of 2019

0141 % of 2019

100 means arrivals matched 2019. Regional indexes do not show each region's share of global tourism.

One recovery, five different paths
Category / period	Value (% of 2019)
Middle East	141
Africa	107
Europe	102
Americas	99
Asia & Pacific	88

100 means arrivals matched 2019. Regional indexes do not show each region's share of global tourism. Download CSV →

Data: 2024 versus 2019 · August 2025 reporting. Sources & methodology ↓

Recovery was uneven

The Middle East recorded 41% more international tourist arrivals in 2024 than in 2019, according to UN Tourism's August 2025 report. Africa and Europe also exceeded their pre-pandemic levels.

The Americas were close to recovery. Asia and the Pacific remained 12% below 2019. A single global recovery number misses those regional differences.

Read the measure carefully

The bars compare each region with its own 2019 total. They do not rank regions by the number of visitors.

These are international tourist arrivals, covering overnight visitors, rather than a count of unique people. The graphic uses the later report's revised figures instead of the preliminary January 2025 release.

Show your workings

Sources & methodology

How to read the numbers

Indexes are calculated as 100 plus the reported percentage change versus 2019: +41, +7, +2, −1 and −12. The source edition is August 2025; figures may be revised in later editions.

UN Tourism · Current trends of international tourism, 25 August 2025, page 3 ↗Checked 5 November 2026

This story uses the dated releases listed above. Historical observations, estimates and projections are identified separately; newer releases may revise these figures. Our editorial standards.