Global Tourism Has Finally Returned to Normal

What we’re showing

This chart visualizes monthly arrivals of foreign visitors to various regions and the U.S., indexed to Dec 2019 levels.

Key takeaway

In most places, tourism appears to have fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. One exception is Asia (ex-China), which as of April 2023, was at 90.8% of 2019 levels.

Context

Rising income levels in China have resulted in the country becoming the world's largest source of tourists. For example, in 2019 (pre-COVID), China ranked first in terms of outbound tourism spending, at $255 billion.

Given it is such a significant source of tourists, China's prolonged period of COVID-19 lockdowns are likely a major factor for Asia's slower tourism recovery.