International tourist arrivals continued their upward trajectory in 2025, increasing by 4% year-on-year as destinations across most regions reported sustained recovery and growth. According to the first World Tourism Barometer of the year, an estimated 1.52 billion international overnight visitors were recorded globally in 2025 – almost 60 million more than in 2024.
This performance signals a return to pre-pandemic growth dynamics, aligning closely with the average annual growth rate of approximately 5% observed between 2009 and 2019. The resurgence was underpinned by strong global travel demand, the solid performance of major source markets, and the continued recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific, many of which had lagged behind earlier phases of the global rebound.
Structural enablers also played a critical role in supporting international mobility throughout the year. Expanded air connectivity, the restoration of flight capacity, and improved visa facilitation measures contributed significantly to easing cross-border travel and stimulating demand.
Commenting on the outlook, UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Alnuwais noted that global travel demand remained resilient despite persistent inflationary pressures in tourism services and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. She emphasized that this momentum is expected to extend into 2026, supported by a relatively stable global economic outlook and the continued recovery of destinations that have yet to fully return to pre-pandemic performance levels.
Overall, the 2025 results underscore tourism’s renewed role as a driver of economic activity, employment, and international exchange, while reinforcing the sector’s capacity for resilience in an increasingly complex global environment.
Source: UNWTO