International travel reaches 97% of pre-pandemic levels 

International tourism has rebounded significantly, reaching 97% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest data from the UN Tourism Organization released on Tuesday, as reported by Anadolu.

The report indicates that more than 285 million tourists traveled internationally from January to March, marking a 20% increase compared to the previous year. While export revenues from tourism have also returned to 97% of pre-pandemic levels, direct tourism GDP has achieved similar levels as in 2019.

The UN specialized agency for tourism expects a full recovery of international tourism by 2024, with arrivals exceeding 2% of 2019 levels.

Europe, as the world's largest destination region, has surpassed pre-virus levels for the first time since the pandemic began, recording a 1% increase with 120 million international tourists in the first quarter of the year. This growth is supported by robust intra-regional demand.

Meanwhile, the Middle East has experienced the strongest relative growth, with international arrivals surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 36% in January-March.

In contrast, Asia and the Pacific region has not yet fully recovered, despite strong growth in international tourist figures. Arrivals in the region reached 82% of their 2019 first-quarter levels.