Introduction Tourism is once again one of the world’s fastest-growing economic engines. In 2024, the estimated number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU reached 2.99 billion, exceeding the previous year by 53.4 million, or 2%. To that, incalculable day trips should be added. Those visitor flows create jobs and local pride, but they also put pressure on land, water, housing, transport and cultural assets. There is strain on local infrastructure, a risk of widening social gaps and erode the landscapes and way of life that attracts visitors in the first place. Our journey begins here Tourism is global. Not everyone goes everywhere, but the travel trend of everyone going somewhere is very clear and rising. Global tourism closed 2024 with about 1.4 billion international arrivals, 11 % more than 2023 and virtually back to 2019 volumes. However recovery was not uniform: Middle East: 95 million arrivals, 32% above 2019 and 1% up on 2023. Africa: 74 million arrivals, 7% above 2019 and 12% over 2023. Europe: 747 million arrivals, 1% above 2019 and 5% over 2023. European tourism is driven by strong intra-European travel. All sub-regions beat pre-pandemic levels except Central and Eastern Europe, where the Russian aggression against Ukraine continues to dampen demand. Europe and the global outlook FINAL HANDBOOK 5
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