New figures from UN Tourism show international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) grew by 4% in 2025, with most destinations around the world posting “solid results.” The World Tourism Barometer reveals an estimated 1.52 billion international tourists recorded globally, a 60 million increase year-on-year.
According to the UN body, the numbers reflect a return to pre-pandemic growth trends, closer to the 5% average increase per year between 2009 and 2019. The results are evidence of “strong demand, robust performance from large source markets and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific,” as well as “increased air connectivity and enhanced visa facilitation,” a press release said.
Noting that the demand remained high despite high inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, the UN Tourism Secretary-General, Shaikha Alnuwais, said the positive trend is expected to continue into 2026, as the “global economy is expected to remain steady and destinations still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels fully recover.”
African results strongest; Asia and the Pacific rebound
In terms of regional performance, Africa (81 million international tourists) saw an eight percent increase in arrivals in 2025, with what the UN called “particularly strong results in North Africa (+11%).” Egypt was up 20%, Morocco +14%, and Seychelles saw 13% growth. South African arrivals soared 19%.
In Asia and the Pacific, there were 331 million international arrivals, a six percent increase year-on-year, but the region remains nine percent below 2019 levels in what UN Tourism said was part of the region’s ongoing “rebound.” North-East Asia was at the vanguard, marking 13% growth compared to 2024, while South Asia recovered pre-pandemic levels. Bhutan leapt 30% and Japan 17%.
Strong rebound in Southern Europe
Europe, the world’s largest destination region, recorded 793 million international tourists in 2025, a four percent increase from 2024 and six percent more than in 2019. Western Europe (+5%) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+3%) saw robust performance. Central and Eastern Europe rebounded “strongly,” UN Tourism said (+6%), but arrivals remained nine percent below 2019 levels.
When it comes to visitor spending receipts and export revenues, some of the year’s top tourism earners were in Europe, among them the United Kingdom and France, both up nine percent. Spain (+7%) and Türkiye (+6%) saw “solid growth in the first ten to twelve months of 2025 compared to the same months of 2024.”
US downturn and weather systems affect the Americas
The Americas welcomed 218 million international tourists, a growth of just one percent, characterised by very different performance across subregions. After a strong first half of 2025, the region saw small declines in Q3 and Q4, partly due to weak results in the United States, UN Tourism said. On the other hand, Central America (+5%) and South America (+7%) led the results by subregion. Brazil (+37%) achieved double-digit growth in arrivals, Guyana was up 24%
Some destinations in the Caribbean (+0%) were affected by Hurricane Melissa in the last quarter of the year.
Middle East leaves 2019 behind
Thanks to an ongoing concerted pivot towards travel and tourism, the Middle East recorded three percent growth in visitor arrivals in 2025, which was equivalent to a whopping 39% above pre-pandemic levels, the strongest regional performance relative to 2019, reaching almost 100 million international visitors in 2025.
Other indicators
The positive results made themselves felt throughout the year in other industry indicators. Export revenues from tourism reached a record USD 2.2 trillion in 2025. As shown in the UN Tourism Data Dashboard, both international air capacity and air passenger traffic grew by seven percent through October 2025 (IATA). Global occupancy in accommodation establishments reached 66% in November 2025, matching November 2024 levels (based on STR data).
2026 outlook
The latest UN Tourism Confidence Index and survey among the Panel of Experts forecast a positive outlook. 58% of experts foresee “better or much better performance in 2026 than in 2025,” while 31% expect similar results and 11% worse.
High costs and inflation and ongoing geopolitical instability are headwinds driving tourists to seek value for money, the Barometer said, while lower oil prices, enhanced air connectivity, and growing outbound travel from emerging markets are all more positive factors. Major international events such as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (Italy) and the FIFA World Cup 2026 (Canada, United States, and Mexico) will also shape the year ahead in international travel.
