00:00 Global tourism is returning to pre-pandemic levels according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
00:07 In 2023, international tourism reached 88% of 2019 levels with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals.
00:17 Last year, the overall contribution of tourism to the global economy was 3.3 trillion dollars or 3% of global GDP.
00:27 Some regions, including the Mediterranean, Europe, the Caribbean, Central America and North Africa, exceeded their 2019 tourism numbers.
00:37 Chinese inbound and outbound tourism is expected to pick up due to visa simplification and improved airline capacity.
00:46 Beijing recently granted visa-free travel to visitors from Switzerland, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia.
00:54 The Spring Festival holiday, of course, is set to boost the rebound further.
