Global travel & tourism deal activity down by 11%, report says

A total of 519 deals – mergers, acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing deals – happened in the travel and tourism sector, globally, during January to September (Q1-Q3) 2024, marking a year-on-year decline of 11 per cent, according to data and analytics company GlobalData.

During the same period last year, 583 deals took place, the company notes.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database also revealed that the volume of M&A deals decreased by 6.8 per cent during Q1-Q3 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, while the number of venture financing deals was down by 25.2% YoY.

Meanwhile, private equity deals volume remained unchanged.

“The decline in global travel and tourism deal activity was mostly driven by a significant fall in deals volume in some regions and countries, while deal activity remained relatively better for some other regions and countries. In fact, some regions and countries even showcased double-digit growth in deal volume, which seems to be an indication of improving deal-making sentiments,” stated Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData, in a press release.

North America, Asia-Pacific, and South and Central American regions experienced decline in deal volume by 36 per cent, 7.7 per cent, and 20 per cent during Q1-Q3 2024 compared to Q1-Q3 2023.

In contrast, Europe registered 10.3 per cent YoY improvement in deal activity.

Meanwhile, deal volume for the Middle East and African region mostly remained at the same level, the report states.

Similarly, the trend across different countries also remained a mixed bag.

The US, China, and France witnessed YoY decline in deal volume by 36.3 per cent, 38.5 per cent, and 42.9 pre cent, respectively, during Q1-Q3 2024, whereas India and Japan experienced respective deal volume improve by 24.3 per cent and 38.1 per cent YoY.

Deal volume for the UK, South Korea, and Australia mostly remained at the same level, GlobalData reports.

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