International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Asia
South Asia: International tourism, receipts for travel items was 39.26 billion current US$ in 2019. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Asia, 1995–2019
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 39.26 billion current US$ for international tourism, receipts for travel items in 2019. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 184.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Asia peaked at 39.26 billion current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3.34 billion current US$, in 1995.
That places South Asia 28th out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Asia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3.34 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 3.57 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 3.71 billion current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 3.82 billion current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 3.91 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 4.33 billion current US$ | +10.9% |
| 2001 | 4.03 billion current US$ | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 4.07 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 5.70 billion current US$ | +40.0% |
| 2004 | 7.66 billion current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2005 | 9.17 billion current US$ | +19.7% |
| 2006 | 10.78 billion current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2007 | 13.23 billion current US$ | +22.7% |
| 2008 | 14.51 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 13.79 billion current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 17.62 billion current US$ | +27.8% |
| 2011 | 21.45 billion current US$ | +21.7% |
| 2012 | 21.93 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 23.52 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 25.94 billion current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 27.69 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 29.57 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 35.46 billion current US$ | +19.9% |
| 2018 | 37.49 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 39.26 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.67 billion current US$ | 3.34 billion current US$ | 3.91 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 8.73 billion current US$ | 4.03 billion current US$ | 14.51 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.99 billion current US$ | 17.62 billion current US$ | 39.26 billion current US$ | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 25 Singapore 5.19 billion current US$ compare
- 26 Iran, Islamic Republic of 5.02 billion current US$ compare
- 27 Greece 5.01 billion current US$ compare
- 28 Egypt 4.40 billion current US$ compare
- 29 Sweden 4.37 billion current US$ compare
- 30 Luxembourg 4.19 billion current US$ compare
- 31 Saudi Arabia 4.04 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for South Asia
- Merchandise trade 30.0% (2025)
- Food imports 5.6% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 864.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.8% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 510.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 301.72 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1115 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Asia?
- International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Asia was 39.26 billion current US$ in 2019, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 39.26 billion current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.34 billion current US$ in 1995.
- How does South Asia rank for international tourism, receipts for travel items?
- South Asia ranks 28th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is international tourism, receipts for travel items rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 184.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.