Number of international tourist arrivals APAC 2013-2024, by subregion

In 2024, the number of international tourist arrivals reached over 300 million, showing significant recovery. The Asia-Pacific region has demonstrated itself to be a firm favorite for international travelers, with over 360 million international tourist arrivals in 2019. However, due to the global pandemic and border closures, the international arrivals in the Asia-Pacific region plummeted to under 60 million in 2020, and further down to 25 million in 2021. The number of tourist arrivals started recovering in 2023.

International tourism

Although Europe remains a leading destination for many travelers, the Asia-Pacific region is steadily becoming more attractive for prospective holiday-goers. The tourism industry is booming, prevalent in the huge contributions the industry has made to many Asia-Pacific countries’ GDPs. Not only does China lead in GDP contributions from travel and tourism, but it has displayed its immense popularity among travelers. International tourist arrivals in China reached over 140 million before the COVID-19 pandemic and is slowly recovering to pre-pandemic levels.

Tourism in the Asia-Pacific region

The tourism industry remains vital for many of the unique economies throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Thus, countries across the region have set up initiatives to entice both domestic and international tourists. These initiatives include implementing a higher availability of flights and the establishment of more tour packages and possibilities in different destinations. Countries, such as India and Sri Lanka, have also made visa attainment easier and have even offered visa-free facilities, likely to encourage more international visitation. These initiatives appear to have been successful, as several Asia-Pacific cities unsurprisingly made the ranking for the best-rated city destinations worldwide.