People visit the Sun Island scenic area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Jan 1, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

MADRID - Global tourism is set to fully recover from the pandemic in 2024 as international tourist arrivals will likely be 2 percent more numerous than in 2019, the United Nations' World Tourism Organization said on Friday.

Increased global air connectivity and a strong recovery of Asian markets will allow a full rebound of tourism activities worldwide this year, even though geopolitical instability in the Middle East and elsewhere constitutes a risk for the industry as it affects would-be travellers' confidence, the UN tourism body said.

In 2023, international tourism ended at 88 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international travellers

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In 2023, travel demand in Europe and Africa almost reached pre-pandemic levels, and surpassed them in the Middle East.

Some destinations, such as Mediterranean Europe, the Caribbean and the Central American and North African sub-regions, exceeded their 2019 international tourism arrivals last year.

The organization expects the Chinese market to soar in 2024, after the government allowed visa-free travel for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia until 30 November 2024. Flight capacity into and out of China is set to increase this year.

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In 2023, international tourism ended at 88 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international travellers.

The overall industry contribution to the global economy in 2023 was $3.3 trillion, according to the report.