Tourism in The Middle East to Reach Its Pre-Pandemic Peak in Early 2023- UNWTO
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Salma Hossein
- . May 12, 2023
- . Update: May 12, 2023 10:22 pm
According to the most recent data from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the Middle East played host to approximately 15 percent more international visitors during the first three months of 2023 than it did during the same period in 2019.
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According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, there were over 230 million people who travelled internationally during the first three months of 2023. This number is more than double what it was during the same period in 2022, and it represents 80 percent of its level before the pandemic.
During this quarter, Europe returned to a level that was 90 percent of what it was before the pandemic. Strong demand from within that region was the primary force behind the region’s overall recovery. Africa had a literacy rate of 88 percent, while the Americas had an approximate 85 percent literacy rate. The figure for Asia Pacific stood at 54 percent, but the UNWTO anticipates that it will rise significantly as a direct result of China’s reopening.
Even though the tourism industry around the world is showing signs of improvement, there are still potential challenges ahead. The experts from the UNWTO pointed to the uncertainty surrounding the global economy, high inflation, rising oil prices, and the war between Russia and Ukraine as potential factors that could affect the recovery.
In addition, UNWTO revised its data for 2022 and discovered that over 960 million tourists traveled in 2018, which was approximately two-thirds of its level before the pandemic.
The expenditures of international tourists reached 64% of their levels before the pandemic in the year 2022.
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The leadership vision of UNWTO recognizes the industry’s ability to overcome these most pressing issues and to spur wider positive change, including the opportunities that responsible tourism presents for advancing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Management Vision of the Secretary-General has received support from UNWTO members. It aims to make tourism a policy priority, take the lead in knowledge creation, strengthen the Organization’s capacity by forming new and stronger partnerships, and provide existing Members with better value while also attracting new members.
The UNWTO, the world’s foremost organization in the tourism industry, champions tourism as a force for economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability. It also provides the industry with leadership and support as it works to advance global tourism knowledge and policies.
To maximize tourism’s socioeconomic contribution while minimizing any potential negative effects, UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. UNWTO is also dedicated to promoting tourism as a tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are intended to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development on a global scale.
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There are 159 Member States, 6 Associate Members, and more than 500 Affiliate Members in the UNWTO, which represents the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations, and local tourism authorities.
