Tourism Statistics

Tourism Statistics

Global reference for tourism data that works for people, planet and prosperity

The Statistics, Standard and Data Department is in charge of fulfilling the organization's UN mandate "to collect, to analyse, to publish, to standardize and to improve the statistics of tourism and to promote the integration of these statistics within the sphere of the United Nations system" (United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/232, whereby UN Tourism became a UN Specialized Agency).

UN Tourism is committed to developing tourism measurement for furthering knowledge of the sector, monitoring progress, evaluating impact, promoting results-focused management, and highlighting strategic issues for policy.

The work of the Statistics, Standards and Data Department revolves around three core pillars: 

  1. International standards: development and revision of international standards for measuring tourism through conceptual developments, innovative measurement solutions, and consensus-building.
  2. Capacity development: design practical guidance for the implementation of international standards in countries, collection of best practices, support statistical strengthening in countries through training, statistical advisory and support instruments.
  3. Data: compile and disseminate tourism statistics of countries all over the world.

For this, the department actively engages in close collaboration with the UN System, ministries in charge of tourism, national statistical offices and other key stakeholders to foster the continuous improvement of tourism data.

“Official statistics provide an indispensable element in the information system of a democratic society, serving the government, the economy and the public with data about the economic, demographic, social and environmental situation.”

Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics

Statistical Standards for Tourism

The United Nations recognizes the World Tourism Organization as the appropriate organization to collect, to analyses, to publish, to standardize and to improve the statistics of tourism, and to promote the integration of these statistics within the sphere of the United Nations system.

Statistical Standards for Tourism
Capacity Building and Events

Over the years, UN Tourism’s Statistics, Standards and Data Department has coordinated important developments relating to the conceptualization of tourism and its measurement, progressively building consensus amongst the international statistical community. Some milestone scenarios in the historical developments include international conferences and capacity development workshops.

Capacity Building and Events
Tourism Statistics Database

UN Tourism systematically gathers tourism statistics from countries and territories around the world into a vast database that constitutes the most comprehensive statistical information available on the tourism sector. 

Tourism Statistics Database
UN Tourism Committee on Statistics

The United Nations recognizes UN Tourism as the appropriate organization to collect, to analyze, to publish, to standardize and to improve the statistics of tourism, and to promote the integration of these statistics within the sphere of the United Nations system

UN Tourism Committee on Statistics
Glossary

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which involve tourism expenditure.

Glossary