International tourism growth 2025 is showing strong resilience with a five percent rise in the first six months compared to last year. UN Tourism reports nearly 690 million international arrivals between January and June, placing the industry four percent above pre-pandemic levels. The latest World Tourism Barometer tracks global trends in visitor numbers, spending, and travel behavior. Most destinations reported increases in arrivals and revenue, though growth varied by region.
Africa saw the fastest increase in international arrivals with a twelve percent rise compared to the first half of 2024. North Africa grew 14 percent, while Sub-Saharan Africa rose 11 percent. Asia and the Pacific continued to rebound with an 11 percent rise year-on-year. The region has recovered to 92 percent of pre-pandemic levels. North-East Asia recorded the highest subregional growth at 20 percent. Japan and Vietnam each rose 21 percent, while the Republic of Korea increased 15 percent.
Europe reached nearly 340 million international arrivals, a four percent increase year-on-year. This is seven percent above 2019 levels, making Europe the most recovered region globally. Central and Eastern Europe recorded nine percent growth, though volumes are still 11 percent below pre-pandemic levels. The Americas experienced three percent overall growth. South America led with a 14 percent rise, while North America and the Caribbean were flat. Declining arrivals in the US and Canada, coupled with reduced demand from US travelers, influenced results.
The Middle East recorded a four percent drop in arrivals compared to 2024. However, the region remained 29 percent above 2019 levels, representing the strongest relative recovery. Revenue trends show continued global travel demand. Japan reported an 18 percent increase in tourism receipts through June. The UK increased 13 percent through March, while France, Spain, and Türkiye rose 9 percent, 8 percent, and 8 percent respectively. Outbound spending also increased. China and Spain led with 16 percent growth, followed by the UK 15 percent, Singapore 10 percent, and the Republic of Korea 8 percent. In 2024, international tourism receipts reached a record USD 1,734 billion, 14 percent above pre-pandemic levels.
International air travel increased seven percent in both traffic and capacity between January and June 2025. Global hotel occupancy was 69 percent in June and 71 percent in July, nearly unchanged from the previous year. High prices remain a major concern. Tourism-specific inflation is expected to fall slightly from eight percent in 2024 to 6.8 percent in 2025 but remains more than double the pre-pandemic rate of 3.1 percent. Accommodation and transport costs were highlighted as key challenges. Travelers are expected to seek better value, shorter trips, or stay closer to home. Geopolitical tensions, lower consumer confidence, trade tariffs, and changing travel requirements were also identified as risks by UN Tourism experts.
Confidence in tourism is rising for the final months of 2025. The UN Tourism Confidence Index shows levels increasing from 114 for May to August to 120 for September to December. Half of respondents expect stronger performance in the coming months, 33 percent predict similar results, and 16 percent anticipate a decline. For the full year, 60 percent expect 2025 to outperform 2024, up from 49 percent in May. UN Tourism’s forecast for international arrivals in 2025 remains three percent to five percent growth. This indicates steady recovery and continued optimism for the global travel industry.
