Following a resilient 2023, there’s a humble optimism that international tourism is steadily regaining its footing towards pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
According to the initial UNWTO World Tourism Barometer for the year, international tourism modestly concluded 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, embracing an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals. Simultaneously, international tourism receipts reached USD 1.4 trillion in 2023, reflecting about 93% of the USD 1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019. The gentle release of pent-up demand, improved air connections, and a gradual recovery of Asian markets and destinations paint a convincing picture of a thoughtful and complete resurgence by the close of 2024.
In the dynamic landscape of international tourism, Indonesia is witnessing a transformative surge propelled by the growing influence of Southeast Asia. As a key player in the region, Indonesia is poised to exceed expectations outlined in the 2024 tourism forecasts, riding on the wave of increased interest and footfall from Southeast Asian nations.
In the initial ten to twelve months of 2023, numerous destinations witnessed notable increases in international tourism receipts, surpassing, in some instances, the growth observed in arrivals. Additionally, several major source markets reported robust demand for outbound travel during this period, with many surpassing the levels recorded in 2019.
Looking Ahead to 2024
A full rebound to pre-pandemic international tourism levels is on the horizon, with initial assessments indicating a 2% uptick beyond the benchmarks set in 2019. The UNWTO’s primary outlook depends on the pace of recovery in Asia and the unfolding developments in prevailing economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
Expressing confidence in Indonesia’s tourism sector, Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, envisions a promising future. He foresees a positive outlook for 2024, setting a target to welcome 14 million foreign tourists. Although these projections signal progress, they still fall short of the pre-pandemic levels witnessed in 2019.
Uno conveyed his anticipations, affirming, “The anticipated foreign tourist visits to Indonesia for this year are expected to reach around 11 million, surpassing the target of 8.5 million. Looking ahead to 2024, our goal is to host 14 million foreign tourists. We hold an optimistic outlook that by 2025, the tourism sector will fully recover to normalcy.”
Southeast Asia: A Promising Hub
In the realm of foreign tourist visits, a noteworthy 71.79 percent of experts express optimism about the Southeast Asian market’s potential to bolster Indonesia’s tourism sector. This sentiment aligns with Minister Uno’s observation that the Southeast Asia region’s economy is anticipated to maintain its strength in 2023, fostering increased foreign tourist visits.
Post-pandemic, revenge travel for fun is shifting towards transformative retreats, catering to both wellness tourism and medical tourism. Tourism activities centered around well-being significantly contribute to relieving stress from work and life commitments.
He remarked, “This encouraging development will have a positive impact on tourist travel throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia. The revitalization of Indonesian tourism has gained momentum this year. Initially setting a target of 7.6 million foreign tourists, we later revised it to 8.5 million, and this year, we are set to achieve 11 million visits.”
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