Global tourism is regaining its pre-pandemic pace, with growth rates returning to the 5 percent annual average seen between 2009 and 2019. Africa is leading the recovery with the strongest results in 2025, while Asia and the Pacific continue to improve.
According to UN Tourism, the results were driven by strong demand, strong performance from large source markets and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific. Increased air connectivity and enhanced visa facilities also support international travel in 2025.
Sheikha Alnuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, said: “Despite high inflation in tourism services and uncertainty from geopolitical tensions, travel demand remained high throughout 2025. We expect this positive trend to continue into 2026 as the global economy is expected to remain stable and destinations are still well behind pre-pandemic levels and have fully recovered.”
The World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism provides comprehensive data for the region by region, sub-region and destination. Highlights of this edition show:
Europe, the world's largest destination region, is expected to record 793 million international tourists in 2025, a 4 percent increase from 2024 and 6 percent more than 2019. Strong performance was seen in Western Europe (+5 percent) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+3 percent). Central and Eastern Europe rebounded strongly (+6 percent), although arrivals remained 9 percent below 2019 levels.
The US (218 million) recorded 1 percent growth last year, with mixed results across all subregions. After a strong position in the first half of 2025, the region saw small declines in the third and fourth quarters, partly due to weak results in the United States. South America (+7 percent) and Central America (+5 percent) led the subregion's results. Some destinations in the Caribbean (+0 percent) were affected by Hurricane Melissa in the last quarter of the year.
Africa (81 million) sees an 8 percent increase in arrivals to 2025, with a particularly strong result in North Africa (+11 percent).
The Middle East recorded growth of 3 percent in 2025, equivalent to 39 percent above pre-pandemic levels, the strongest result relative to 2019. The region virtually reaches the 100 million international visitors mark in 2025.
Arrivals in Asia and the Pacific (331 million) grew 6 percent last year, but are still 9 percent below 2019 levels as the region continues to recover. North-East Asia led the performance with 13 per cent growth compared to 2024, while South Asia recovered pre-pandemic levels.
