RIYADH: Tourist arrivals in the Middle East region could reach about 50 percent to 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, amid signs of a strong and steady recovery in the sector, said the World Tourism Organization. According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourism saw almost 250 million arrivals in the first five months of 2022, compared to 77 million arrivals recorded from January to May 2021. This means the sector has recovered almost half or 46 percent of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, it said, adding that this shows signs of a strong and steady recovery from the impact of covid-19, despite the increasing economic and geopolitical challenges. “The recovery of tourism has gathered pace in many parts of the world, weathering the challenges standing in its way,” the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili said. At the same time, he also cautioned about “economic headwinds and geopolitical challenges which could impact the sector in the remainder of 2022 and beyond.”