Global Travel Roars Back: Tourism Up 5% in Early 2025, Breaking Pre-COVID RecordsGlobal

International tourist arrivals surged by 5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, with over 300 million people traveling globally. This indicates a robust recovery, even exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic figures by 3%, despite ongoing challenges like geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and inflation.

Regional Performance Highlights:

• Europe remains dominant, attracting 125 million visitors, up 2% from 2024 and 5% from 2019. Southern Mediterranean Europe saw a 2% rise, while Central and Eastern Europe rebounded with 8% growth.
• Africa recorded an impressive 9% surge in arrivals, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 16%.
• The Americas saw a 2% rise, driven by strong growth in South America, particularly during its summer season.
• The Middle East had modest 1% growth but is 44% above pre-pandemic levels.
• Asia and the Pacific showed significant recovery with a 12% rise, nearly reaching 2019 levels, led by North-East Asia’s 23% increase.

Increased Spending and Record Revenues:

Tourist spending is on the rise, with notable increases in receipts in countries like Turkey (7%), Italy, Greece, and Portugal (all 4%), and France (6%). Japan saw a remarkable 34% surge. The United States, the world’s largest tourism revenue generator, reported a 3% increase in Q1 2025 receipts, following a 14% rise in 2024. Global tourism export revenues hit a record $2.0 trillion in 2024, an 11% increase from 2023 and 15% above pre-pandemic figures, accounting for 6% of global exports. The average spend per international trip also remained high at $1,170 in 2024.

Outlook and Challenges:

While optimistic for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere summer season, the sector faces economic headwinds, including high travel costs, global slowdowns, and tariffs. Geopolitical instability and trade barriers could also influence traveler confidence, potentially leading tourists to seek value for money or opt for shorter, closer-to-home trips. Despite these challenges, the tourism industry’s resilience and its role as a critical driver of economic growth remain evident.

Sources: UN Tourism, Statista.com, Nairametrics.com, Atqnews.com