11/08/2024
In 2019, just 38 out of 200 countries analyzed by UN Tourism had over ten million tourist arrivals. Notably, nine of these saw exceptional growth since 2010, with Asia leading the way. According to Statista, seven of the top ten regions with the highest growth were in Asia, with Japan (270%), Vietnam (261%), and India (210%) showing the most significant increases. Portugal and Greece also made the list, while Mexico saw a 93% rise.
By 2022, many countries hadn't fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Taiwan's visitor numbers fell by 84% compared to 2010, with South Korea and Japan also seeing declines. Thailand had the highest number of arrivals in 2019 (24 million), followed by Japan (23 million) and Mexico (22 million).
Tourism, contributing 9% to global GDP in 2023, can lead to overtourism, straining local ecosystems and infrastructure. Cities like Amsterdam and Venice have implemented measures to manage tourist numbers, and popular destinations in Thailand and Indonesia are also facing challenges from increased tourism.