Global Tourism Grows 5% in First Half of 2025, Led by Africa and Asia
International tourism arrivals rose 5% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reaching nearly 690 million visitors, according to UN Tourism. This marks a 4% increase over pre-pandemic levels, despite ongoing global economic and geopolitical challenges. Africa led regional performance with a 12% year-on-year increase in arrivals, followed closely by the Asia-Pacific region at 11%, indicating sustained demand and recovery across several major markets.
Europe recorded 340 million arrivals in the period (+4%), with Northern, Western, and Southern Mediterranean regions each posting 3% growth. The Americas posted modest gains (+3%) while the Middle East reported a slight decline (-4%) despite strong post-pandemic recovery. Top-performing destinations included Morocco (+19%), Japan and Vietnam (+21% each), and the Republic of Korea (+15%). Meanwhile, key markets such as France, Spain, and the UK saw steady growth in both arrivals and tourism receipts. Elevated travel costs remain a concern, but confidence for the remainder of 2025 is cautiously optimistic, with UN Tourism maintaining its annual outlook of 3–5% growth in international arrivals.
Source: UN Tourism
