Global travel growth reaches a major landmark in 2024 as full-year international tourist arrivals are expected to reach 1.5 billion, surpassing 2019 levels, according to the WTM Global Travel Report, which was unveiled at the WTM International Exhibition in London.
According to the findings of the report, which was conducted in collaboration with Tourism Economics, by 2030, international visitor arrivals of at least one-night stays are expected to have increased by more than 30% to two billion, helped by emerging outbound tourism markets.
Meanwhile, global spending on leisure tourism in 2024 is estimated at over US$5.5 trillion, up 24% from 2019.
More importantly, consumers appear to be prioritising travel, with it accounting for a larger share of spending in major advanced economies than in the decade before the pandemic.
Overall, according to Tourism Economics data, travel spending as a share of consumer spending is 8.8% in 2024, compared to an average of 8.2% between 2010 and 2019. Even in markets such as Asia-Pacific, where some destinations, notably China, are lagging in recovery, travel as a percentage of consumer spending is rebounding close to 2019 levels.
Increased length of stay
Globally, the number of overnight stays across all accommodation this year is set to exceed 2023 levels by 7% and 2019 levels by 16%, according to Tourism Economics. However, these figures do not fully reflect the corresponding increase in visits, as overnight stays are getting longer and longer.
The average length of stay for both domestic and international trips fell in the decade before the pandemic, but increased during the recovery period and remains above the pre-pandemic average. In fact, the average length of stay in hotels, for international travel, increased by 12% in 2024, compared to 2019, more than compensating for the 8% decline in the previous decade.
Several trends are fuelling this lengthening in residence. According to Tourism Economics’ research on tourism trends, some travellers are opting for “deeper and more sustainable travel”, perhaps reducing frequency in favour of longer trips.
Tourism Economics also notes a significant increase in so-called ‘white leisure’, with business travellers adding extra days to their business trips for leisure.
Commenting on the survey findings, Juliette Losardo, WTM’s Director of Exhibitions, said: “WTM’s aim is to help delegates navigate the changes, ensuring travel professionals are equipped for the year ahead. Commissioning the WTM Global Travel Report supports our commitment to provide attendees with the latest trends shaping the travel landscape.”
He added: “Using an extensive database covering more than 185 countries worldwide as destinations and source markets, covering all major bilateral tourism flows in terms of visits, overnight stays and spending, as well as unique industry insights, the report provides a comprehensive perspective on tourism.”
