Africa Outpaces Global Tourism Growth with 4% Rise in First Half of 2026
Africa has emerged as one of the strongest-performing regions in international tourism, recording 4% growth in arrivals in the first half of 2026 - well ahead of the global average of 0.4%, according to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism. The figures cover an estimated 690 million international arrivals worldwide between January and June, just 3 million more than the same period in 2025, as the Middle East conflict, elevated oil prices, and inflationary pressures weighed on global momentum.
While regions including South-East Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Oceania faced notable declines due to geopolitical disruption, air connectivity issues, and extreme weather events, Africa's performance signals continued resilience and growing appeal. The broader global outlook has been revised downward, with international arrivals now forecast to grow by 1% to 2% in 2026 - compared to an earlier projection of 3% to 4% - though the trajectory will depend heavily on the duration of the Middle East conflict and its knock-on effects on fuel costs and consumer confidence.
Source: UN Tourism
