Global Tourism Grows 4% in 2025 as Travel Demand Remains Strong Worldwide - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

International tourist arrivals increased by 4% in 2025, confirming the resilience of global travel demand despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty. According to the first World Tourism Barometer of the year published by UN Tourism, destinations worldwide recorded an estimated 1.52 billion international overnight visitors, nearly 60 million more than in 2024.

The figures mark a return to pre-pandemic growth patterns, approaching the average annual increase of around 5% seen between 2009 and 2019. Strong demand from major source markets, continued recovery in Asia and the Pacific, improved air connectivity and expanded visa facilitation all contributed to the positive results.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Alnuwais said: “Demand for travel remained high throughout 2025, despite high inflation in tourism services and uncertainty from geopolitical tensions. We expect this positive trend to continue into 2026 as the global economy is expected to remain steady and destinations still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels fully recover.”

Regional Performance: Africa Leads, Asia-Pacific Rebounds

The World Tourism Barometer highlights differing regional dynamics, with most areas reporting growth in 2025.

Europe, the world’s largest destination region, welcomed 793 million international tourists, an increase of 4% over 2024 and 6% above 2019 levels. Western Europe and Southern Mediterranean Europe posted solid gains, while Central and Eastern Europe rebounded strongly, although arrivals remained below pre-pandemic volumes.

The Americas recorded 218 million arrivals, up 1% year-on-year. Results varied across subregions, with South America and Central America leading growth, while some Caribbean destinations were affected by extreme weather events late in the year.

Africa delivered the strongest performance, with arrivals rising 8% to 81 million, driven in particular by double-digit growth in North Africa. The Middle East also continued to outperform, growing by 3% and reaching levels nearly 40% above 2019, approaching 100 million international visitors.

Asia and the Pacific recorded 331 million arrivals, up 6% compared with 2024, as the region continued its gradual recovery. North-East Asia led growth, while South Asia returned to pre-pandemic levels, although overall arrivals in the region remain below 2019 volumes.

Broad-Based Growth Across Destinations

Most destinations reported positive results in 2025, with several achieving double-digit growth. Countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Morocco and Seychelles recorded particularly strong increases, while destinations reporting data through November also showed robust momentum.

Other industry indicators mirrored this performance. International air capacity and passenger traffic increased by 7% through October 2025, while global accommodation occupancy reached 66% in November, matching the previous year’s level.

Tourism Revenues Reach Record Levels

Tourism exports reached an estimated USD 2.2 trillion in 2025, reflecting strong visitor spending throughout the year. Preliminary figures indicate USD 1.9 trillion in international tourism receipts, up 5% from 2024.

Many destinations reported faster growth in receipts than in arrivals, highlighting continued strength in travel expenditure. Among major tourism earners, countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Türkiye posted solid increases, while outbound spending also rose strongly in key source markets including the United States, Spain and the Republic of Korea.

Outlook for 2026: Moderate Growth Amid Uncertainty

UN Tourism expects international tourist arrivals to grow by 3% to 4% in 2026, assuming continued recovery in Asia and the Pacific, stable global economic conditions and no major escalation of geopolitical conflicts. The outlook reflects a normalization of growth following the sharp rebound of recent years.

The latest UN Tourism Confidence Index shows cautious optimism: a majority of experts anticipate improved performance in 2026, while others expect results to remain broadly stable. Economic pressures, high travel costs and geopolitical risks were identified as the main challenges ahead.

Despite these risks, international tourism in 2026 is expected to be supported by sustained consumer demand, expanding air connectivity and growing outbound travel from emerging markets. Major global events, including the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup 2026, are also set to provide additional momentum for international travel.

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