International travel kept rising in the first half of 2025. UN Tourism reports a +5% increase in global arrivals versus H1 2024—now ~4% above 2019. Performance is uneven across regions: Africa leads, Asia–Pacific rebounds, Europe grows steadily, the Americas are mixed, and the Middle East softens year-on-year but remains far above 2019.

Key numbers at a glance

• Global arrivals: +5% vs H1 2024; ~+4% vs 2019 (≈ 690 million international trips in Jan–Jun 2025).
• Europe: ~340 million visitors (H1 2025) → +4% YoY, +7% vs 2019.
• Africa: +12% YoY (North Africa +14%, Sub-Saharan +11%).
• Asia–Pacific: +11% YoY; region at ~92% of 2019 (≈–8% vs 2019). North-East Asia +20% YoY.
• Americas: +3% YoY (South America +14%, Central America +2%, North America ~0%, Caribbean ~0%).
• Middle East: –4% YoY, but ~+29% vs 2019 (strongest vs pre-pandemic).
• Air & hotels: International RPKs/ASKs +7% (Jan–Jun 2025 vs 2024). Global hotel occupancy 69% in June and 71% in July 2025 (flat YoY).

Europe focus: steady growth with CEE catching up

Europe remains the world’s busiest region with roughly 340 million international visitors in H1 2025. Northern, Western and Southern/Mediterranean Europe each grew around +3% YoY. Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) rose +9% YoY, still ~11% below 2019, suggesting continued room to rebound in late 2025 and 2026.

What this means for travellers to Europe

• Expect busy peaks in major capitals and Mediterranean hotspots; book flights and stays early.
• Watch CEE destinations (e.g., Baltics, Balkans, Central Europe) for good value as volumes rebuild.
• Use shoulder-season dates and mid-week flights to find better fares and fewer crowds.

Region-by-region snapshot (H1 2025 vs 2024)

• Africa: +12% overall; double-digit gains in both North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Asia–Pacific: +11%; strong North-East Asia +20%, though region remains slightly below 2019.
• Americas: +3%; South America leads at +14%, while North America and the Caribbean were flat.
• Middle East: –4% YoY after an outsized rebound; still ~+29% vs 2019.

Among large destinations, Japan & Vietnam (+21%), the Republic of Korea (+15%), Morocco (+19%), plus Mexico and the Netherlands (both ~+7%) ranked among the top gainers in H1 2025. The world’s top destinations France (+5% through May) and Spain (+5%), also posted solid growth.

Spending, flights and hotels

• Tourism receipts: Strong H1 gains in Japan (+18%), UK (+13% through March), France (+9%), Spain (+8%), Türkiye (+8%).
• Outbound spend: Up from China (+16% through March), Spain (+16%), UK (+15% through March), Singapore (+10%), Korea (+8%).
• Air capacity & traffic: International RPKs and ASKs +7% in Jan–Jun 2025 (IATA).
• Accommodation: 69% global occupancy in June (slightly below 2024); 71% in July (flat YoY).

Outlook for late 2025

UN Tourism’s Confidence Index shows a modest uptick for September–December 2025. Full-year projections remain +3% to +5% growth in international arrivals. Elevated transport/accommodation costs and geopolitics are the main watch-outs; travellers are likely to keep seeking value for money, traveling closer to home, or taking shorter trips.

FAQ

Is global tourism now above 2019?
Yes—H1 2025 arrivals are ~4% above 2019.

Which region grew the fastest?
Africa (+12% YoY), followed by Asia–Pacific (+11% YoY).

How is Europe performing vs pre-pandemic?
Europe is ~+7% above 2019 overall, with CEE ~11% below 2019 but improving.

Will growth continue into winter?
The confidence index improved for Sep–Dec 2025, and full-year growth is still projected at +3% to +5%.

Sources: UN Tourism – World Tourism Barometer, summary via Hospitality Net.