Boon for tourism as recovery outpaces expectations

Boon for tourism as recovery outpaces expectations

Hosia Mviringi

International tourist arrivals in Europe and the Middle East, and the Pacific are expected to reach the pre-pandemic levels in 2023 after a stronger-than-expected rebound in 2022.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Authority, 2022 presented a pleasant surprise as tourism growth exceeded projections.

“A new year brings more reasons for optimism for global tourism. UNWTO anticipates a strong year for the sector even in the face of diverse challenges, including the economic situation and the continued geopolitical uncertainty. Economic factors may influence how people travel in 2023, and UNWTO expects demand for domestic and regional travel to remain strong and help drive the sector’s wider recovery ,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashbili in a statement .

According to available UNWTO data, more than 900 million tourists travelled internationally in 2022, double the number recorded in 2021, though still at 63 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

All global regions recorded notable increases in international tourist arrivals, with the Middle East recording the strongest relative increase in international arrivals at 83 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Europe clocked nearly 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels as they welcomed 585 million visitors in 2022 while Asia and the Pacific regions managed only 23 per cent due to stricter pandemic-related restrictions which only began relaxing in the past few months.

Based on UNWTO forward-looking forecasts, international tourist arrivals could reach a peak of between 80-90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels depending on the extent of anticipated economic slowdown and relative peace and stability in certain geopolitical regions, especially the evolution of the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine.

The first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of 2023 analyses performance by region and looks at top performers in 2022, including several destinations that have already recovered to the 2019 levels.

Zimbabwe is consistently making progress to ensure that the country is part of this recovery in international tourist arrivals as evidenced by increased investment in destination management and exhibitions. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is currently leading a contingent of local operators to the Spanish annual Feria Onternacional de Tourismo Trade Fair (FITUR) exhibitions in Madrid.