The Asia-Pacific region welcomed 316 million international visitors in 2024, marking a significant recovery from recent years but still falling short of pre-pandemic levels, according to the United Nations (UN)’s World Tourism Barometer.
The latest statistics revealed that 1.4 billion people travelled internationally last year, with Africa, Europe and the Middle East all surpassing pre-pandemic figures. Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, saw a slower rebound, recording 87 percent of its 2019 tourist arrivals.
Northeast Asia, which includes Macao, attracted the most visitors in the region with 146 million arrivals. Southeast Asia followed with 121 million, while South Asia and Oceania welcomed 33 million and 15 million visitors, respectively. Despite these numbers, Northeast Asia’s recovery rate lagged at 86 percent of 2019 levels, ahead of only Oceania’s 83 percent. South Asia led the way with a 92 percent recovery rate.
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While Asia-Pacific fell short of 2019’s highs, the figures still represent a 66 percent improvement from 2023, a sign of ongoing recovery in the all-important travel sector.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili expressed optimism about the future, noting that global growth is expected to continue in 2025, “driven by strong demand contributing to the socio-economic development of both mature and emerging destinations.”
Locally, Macao leaders have been bullish about transforming the SAR’s tourism sector. The government has organised roadshows, social media campaigns and partnerships with legacy media to bring more international guests to the city – and get them to stay longer. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) expects up to 39 million visitors to travel to the SAR during 2025.
