Global international tourism receipts 2006-2021

Global international tourism receipts rose by approximately 10 percent in 2021 over the previous year, following a dramatic drop in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, international tourism receipts worldwide amounted to roughly 602 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, increasing from around 546 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 but remaining way below pre-pandemic levels.

COVID-19 impact on international tourism worldwide

As a result of the pandemic, international tourist arrivals worldwide reached around 401 million in 2020, the lowest figure recorded since 1989, then went up by 5.4 percent in 2021. In Europe - the most visited global region by international travelers - inbound arrivals decreased by 68 percent in the first year of the health crisis, then went up to nearly 287 million in 2021.

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP

When looking at the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP, the United States and China stand out in the global picture. However, as the pandemic hit these industries hard in 2020, both countries reported a dramatic drop in travel & tourism contribution to national GDP that year. In total, travel and tourism industries in the U.S. contributed 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020, while China placed second in the global ranking, with 667 billion U.S. dollars.