World Travel Records 1.52 Billion Tourists In 2025, Africa Leads Regional Growth

International travel picked up pace in 2025 as more people around the world returned to travelling abroad. According to the first World Tourism Barometer of the year, destinations around the world welcomed 1.52 billion international tourists last year, marking a steady rise over 2024 and signalling that global travel is finding its rhythm again. Better flight connections, easier visa rules and pent-up demand helped keep tourism buoyant, bringing the industry closer to the growth patterns seen before the pandemic.

Global Tourist Arrivals Rise Steadily In 2025

International tourist arrivals grew by 4 per cent in 2025. An estimated 1.52 billion international tourists travelled globally during the year, nearly 60 million more than in 2024. These figures mark a return to pre-pandemic growth trends, aligning closely with the average annual increase of around 5 per cent recorded between 2009 and 2019. The recovery was supported by sustained demand and the continued rebound of destinations in Asia and the Pacific.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Alnuwais noted that travel demand remained strong throughout 2025 despite higher costs and global uncertainties, adding that the positive trend is expected to continue into 2026 as lagging destinations fully recover.

Africa Leads Growth As Asia And The Pacific Rebound

• Regional data from the World Tourism Barometer highlights Africa as the strongest performer in 2025, with international arrivals rising 8 per cent to 81 million. North Africa led the surge with an 11 per cent increase.
• Europe, the world's most visited region, welcomed 793 million international tourists, up 4 per cent from 2024 and 6 per cent above 2019 levels. Western Europe and Southern Mediterranean Europe recorded solid growth, while Central and Eastern Europe saw a strong rebound, although arrivals remained below pre-pandemic figures.
• The Americas recorded modest growth of 1 per cent, with South America and Central America outperforming other subregions.
• The Middle East continued to post exceptional results, growing 3 per cent in 2025 and reaching nearly 100 million visitors, placing it 39 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.
• Asia and the Pacific saw arrivals increase by 6 per cent to 331 million, though numbers remained 9 per cent below 2019. North-East Asia led the recovery, while South Asia returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Strongest Performing Destinations For 2025

Several destinations reported double-digit growth in international arrivals during 2025. Brazil, Egypt, Morocco and Seychelles were among the strongest performers for the full year.

Data available through November also pointed to sharp rises in arrivals to destinations such as Bhutan, Iceland, Guyana, South Africa and Japan, reflecting renewed confidence in long-haul and experiential travel.

International Tourism Receipts Estimated At USD 1.9 Trillion

Visitor spending remained robust throughout 2025, with international tourism receipts estimated at USD 1.9 trillion, a 5 per cent increase over 2024. Total export revenues from tourism, including passenger transport, are estimated at a record USD 2.2 trillion.

Destinations reporting strong growth in tourism receipts included Morocco, the Republic of Korea, Egypt, Mongolia and Japan, calculated in local currencies.

Among the world's top tourism earners, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Turkiye also posted healthy growth compared to 2024.

What To Expect In 2026

International tourism is projected to grow by 3 to 4 per cent in 2026, assuming continued recovery in Asia and the Pacific and stable global economic conditions.

While solid consumer demand, improved connectivity and major global events such as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup 2026 are expected to boost travel, geopolitical tensions and high travel costs remain key risks for the year ahead.