Tourism deals in global travel and tourism sector plummeted 12.6 pc during the first half (H1) of 2024, figures by data and analytics company GlobalData suggests.

In a press statement, GlobalData says that a total of 347 deals comprising mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing deals were announced in the global travel and tourism sector during H1 2024.

This is in comparison to the 397 deals announced during the same period in the previous year.

Aurojyoti Bose

“Even though there was a decline globally due to a dent in deal-making sentiments, the trend was a mixed bag across different markets and regions, with some countries contributing to the decline while some experienced improved activity. And the same was the case for the deal types under coverage,” says Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database says that the volume of M and A deals declined by 7.4 pc during H1 2024 compared to H1 2023, whereas the number of venture financing deals fell by 29.6 pc YoY. Meanwhile, private equity deal volume remained at the same level.

North America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and the South and Central American regions witnessed YoY decline of 31.7 pc, 14.5 pc, 11.1 pc, and 41.7 pc in deal volume during H1 2024 compared to H1 2023, respectively, whereas Europe saw YoY growth of 11.7 pc in deal volume.

The statement adds that the US, China, Australia, and France witnessed a YoY decline in deal volume by 31.5 pc, 46.4 pc, 18.8 pc, and 40 pc, respectively, during H1 2024 compared to the same period during the previous year.

However, markets such as the UK, India, and Japan saw respective deal volumes grow by 7.9 pc, 12 pc, and 18.2 pc YoY in H1 2024.