These are the top 10 countries with the best international air connectivity in the first half of 2024 according to Mabrian data. This ranking reflects the outbound travel potential of these countries, positioning them as key destinations in the global travel landscape.
The study covers travel dates from January 1 to June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Within the realm of geographic markets, a notable advancement in connectivity between Europe and China stands out. Specifically, European countries such as Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, which all no longer require a tourist visa for travel to China, are experiencing a remarkable increase in connectivity, collectively offering 1.98 million air seats. This marks an impressive 190% increase compared to the first half of 2023 (when it was only 682,000 seats).
This surge is supported by a recent measure announced by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to encourage the return of European tourism. It allows citizens of Spain and four other European Union countries to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 15 days.
The total air seats for these 10 countries amount to 482,102,279, contributing to 42% of the global international air seats in the first half of the year.
”Anticipating the potential of origin markets regarding their outbound air connectivity is a key factor in identifying where tourist demand will be and the most relevant opportunities for global destinations and tourism companies” pointed out Carlos Cendra, CMO at Mabrian.
”Increase in seats across the Atlantic for Europe. The robust outbound markets of the UK and Germany are also experiencing significant growth in seats and connections as they recover strongly from the pandemic. The resurgence of China with a substantial number of routes and seats is promising, and if this growth continues, 2024 could surpass 2019 as the year with the highest international connections. Additionally, the influence of Emirates and Etihad is evident in the considerable international seats offered through the UAE, highlighting Dubai and Abu Dhabi as global hubs facilitating travel to and through the region” highlighted Gavin Eccles, director of GE Consulting, a company specialized in air connectivity.
