Global tourism sustains upward trend: UN Tourism
MADRID: Madrid‑based organisation said in its quarterly World Tourism Barometer that over 1.1 billion people made international trips in the first nine months of the year, around 5% more than in the same period of 2024.
The Asia‑Pacific region saw an 8% increase in arrivals between January and September as it continued its post‑pandemic recovery, although numbers remained about 10% below 2019 levels.
International arrivals to Africa rose strongly, with North Africa up 11% and Sub‑Saharan Africa up 10%. Europe remained the world’s largest destination region, welcoming 625 million arrivals in the first nine months of 2025, 4% higher year‑on‑year.
North America posted a slight decline of around 1%, while South America grew 9% and Central America 3%, supported by strong demand in several destinations.
“International tourism has continued to experience sustained growth so far in 2025 in terms of international arrivals and, importantly, in receipts, despite high inflation in tourism services and geopolitical tensions. Africa and Europe in particular stand out for their results,” UN Tourism Secretary‑General Zurab Pololikashvili said in a press note.
UN Tourism forecasts 3–5% growth for 2025 as a whole, while noting that geopolitical uncertainty and high costs remain potential risks for the sector’s outlook.
By RSS/Xinhua
