[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In the latest ‘World Tourism Barometer’ published by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) of the United Nations, Pakistan has been recognized as the ‘best-performing’ country in tourism. According to the statistics, Pakistan achieved an impressive 92% recovery to pre-Covid levels in 2023, experiencing a 115% surge in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the previous year.
The WTO Tourism Barometer also highlighted other countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Turkey, and Romania as best-performing, while Egypt and Serbia were at the bottom of the list of destination countries.
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The latest findings reveal a significant recovery in international tourism, with an 87% rebound compared to pre-pandemic levels from January to September 2023. During this period, approximately 975 million tourists engaged in international travel, marking a substantial 38% surge from the same months in 2022, although it was still 13% fewer compared to 2019 figures when travel restrictions were not in place.
Projections indicate a potential surge in international tourism receipts, expected to reach $1.4 trillion in 2023, accounting for approximately 93% of the $1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.
The Middle East emerged as a frontrunner in relative recovery among regions, boasting a 20% increase in arrivals above pre-pandemic levels. Europe, identified as the world’s largest destination region, successfully reached 94% of its pre-pandemic levels, primarily supported by strong intra-regional demand.
Africa also performed well in terms of numbers and demonstrated a significant bounce-back, reclaiming 92% of pre-crisis visitor numbers during the nine months, while the Americas attained 88%, as reported by Dawn News.
Asia and the Pacific region witnessed a recovery of merely 62% of pre-pandemic levels. The overall international arrivals are expected to soar to 1.3 billion in 2023.
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Aftab Rana attributed this success to the concerted efforts in tourism promotion, stating that Pakistan stands as a beacon in tourism resurgence. Minister of State for Tourism Wasi Shah congratulated the PTDC team and industry partners for the distinction and expressed hopes for better performance next year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
