World Tourism Rankings by Country 2024: A Glimpse into Global Travel Trends

World Tourism Rankings by Country 2024: A Glimpse into Global Travel Trends

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 27, 2024

As the world emerges from the shadows of the pandemic, the tourism industry is witnessing a significant revival. Positive indicators from 2023 suggest a promising travel season in 2024, with international tourism recovering to 87% of pre-pandemic levels. According to UN Tourism, the sector is poised to fully bounce back in 2024.

Key Insights:

  • Global tourism is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2% in 2024.
  • France retains its title as the most visited country, attracting over 100 million tourists in 2023.
  • Spain follows closely with more than 85 million international arrivals.
  • The Middle East showcases the fastest recovery, achieving a 22% increase over pre-pandemic figures.

World Tourism Rankings by Country 2024 Based on data from the UNWTO, the top countries by international tourist arrivals for 2024 are as follows:

  1. France - 100 million arrivals
  2. Spain - 85.17 million
  3. United States - 66.48 million
  4. Italy - 57.25 million
  5. Turkey - 55.16 million
  6. Mexico - 42.15 million
  7. United Kingdom - 37.22 million
  8. Germany - 34.80 million
  9. Greece - 32.74 million
  10. Austria - 30.91 million

image

World Tourism Analysis The UNWTO reported approximately 1.286 billion international tourists in 2023, marking a 34% increase from the previous year and the highest point post-pandemic. Notably, the Middle East recorded a remarkable 22% growth above its pre-pandemic arrivals.

Projections for 2024 International tourism is anticipated to recover fully in 2024, with growth projections suggesting an increase of 2% over 2019 levels. Factors influencing this include the pace of recovery in Asia and the Pacific, economic conditions, and geopolitical stability. Recent surveys reveal that 67% of tourism professionals expect improved performance in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Best Performing Destinations Coming into 2024 France leads the way with its 100 million international visitors, followed by Spain and the United States. The Middle East continues to shine with substantial growth rates, suggesting a bright future for global tourism.

image

Conclusion As we look ahead, the travel landscape is set for exciting changes, with countries adapting to meet the needs of international travelers. For those keen on discovering the most popular destinations in 2024, additional insights can be found in our guides on "Most Preferred Cities 2024" and "Top Destination Countries for Tourism 2024."


IndiGo Focuses on Operational Stability, Plans Select Route Expansion

IndiGo Focuses on Operational Stability, Plans Select Route Expansion

By Hariharan U

Published on January 3, 2026

IndiGo has outlined a cautious yet forward-looking approach as it prepares for the next phase of growth, placing strong emphasis on “operational reliability” while planning a limited set of international route additions. The airline said its immediate focus is to “stabilise operations” as it continues to strengthen capacity and network resilience.

As part of its international plans, IndiGo has announced the launch of non-stop services to Athens. This route will also mark the international debut of India’s first Airbus A321XLR, a new aircraft type expected to support the airline’s entry into fresh overseas markets as it gradually expands beyond short-haul operations.

Beyond Athens, the airline has not shared details of additional international destinations or capacity increases. IndiGo stated that it will continue to grow its international footprint while further densifying its domestic network, without outlining the pace or scale of expansion.

On the domestic front, the airline is also preparing to begin operations from Noida International Airport at Jewar, strengthening its presence in the National Capital Region once services commence.

Addressing recent operational challenges, IndiGo said it had swiftly restored normal operations following a temporary network disruption. The airline also confirmed that it is “fully collaborating and providing requested information to the regulator's committee” as part of an ongoing review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

While IndiGo reiterated its long-term ambitions, including plans related to widebody aircraft and sustained growth, its near-term outlook remains measured. The airline said its renewed focus on stability will help drive future scale, innovation, and impact as it carefully explores new frontiers.


Navi Mumbai Airport Sees 26,000+ Passengers in First Five Days

Navi Mumbai Airport Sees 26,000+ Passengers in First Five Days

By Hariharan U

Published on January 1, 2026

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has made an impressive start, handling a total of 26,021 passengers in its first five days of operations. This includes 12,431 arrivals and 13,590 departures, showing strong demand right from day one.

Weekend traffic was particularly high, with 5,548 travellers on Saturday and 5,614 on Sunday, reflecting growing confidence among passengers. During this initial period, the airport managed 162 flight movements, 81 arrivals and 81 departures, while keeping on-time performance smooth for both airlines and ground services.

Currently, NMIA connects 13 major domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa (MOPA), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Nagpur, Vadodara. These connections cover key business and leisure hubs, giving travellers more options and conveand nience in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Looking ahead, the airport plans to expand its network with additional destinations and increased flight frequencies in coordination with partner airlines. With strong early passenger response and ready infrastructure, NMIA is set to become a modern, seamless travel hub in Western India


Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic to Offer Seamless Connectivity to Latvia

Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic to Offer Seamless Connectivity to Latvia

By Hariharan U

Published on January 1, 2026

Air India has strengthened its partnership with airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, by entering into a new codeshare agreement, making travel between India and the Baltic region easier and more seamless for its customers. This move builds on the interline partnership established between the two carriers in June 2025.

Under the codeshare, Air India has begun adding its ‘AI’ designator code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Air India’s European gateways including Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, and London Gatwick. This allows passengers to travel between India and Riga with a single Air India ticket, covering connecting flights under the same booking.

Additionally, Air India’s interline agreement with airBaltic allows travellers to reach Tallinn, Estonia, and Vilnius, Lithuania via select European gateways, further expanding access to the Baltic region.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "This expanded partnership with airBaltic reflects Air India’s commitment to providing seamless global connectivity to our customers. Latvia and the wider Baltic region are growing travel markets, and this codeshare makes the journey more convenient than ever."

Air India currently operates multiple non-stop flights connecting India with Europe:

  • Delhi: Amsterdam (7x weekly), Paris (14x weekly), Frankfurt (12x weekly), Copenhagen (4x weekly), Milan (6x weekly), Vienna (4x weekly), Zurich (4x weekly)

  • Mumbai: Frankfurt (5x weekly)

  • Amritsar & Ahmedabad: London Gatwick (3x weekly each)

Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global alliance network to include 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, offering passengers access to over 800 destinations worldwide.

The new codeshare flights are now available for booking through both airlines’ official channels and travel partners.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.