Over 300 million tourists travelled internationally in the first three months of 2025, about 14 million more than in the same months of 2024, according to the May 2025 World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism. That represents a 5% rise on last year and is 3% more than in pre-pandemic year 2019.

The robust performance comes despite the sector facing a range of geopolitical and trade tensions, as well as high inflation in travel and tourism services.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The continued good performance in international arrivals combined with stronger visitor spending in many destinations highlights the resilience of the sector in the face of numerous challenges and is good news for economies and workers everywhere.”

The World Tourism Barometer breaks down the data for the first quarter of 2025 by region and sub-region. Key highlights show:

• The Americas saw 2% more international arrivals, with several destinations in South America (+13%) enjoying strong results during the Southern Hemisphere summer season.
• Europe welcomed 125 million international tourists in the first three months of the year, up 2% from Q1 2024, and 5% more than the same period before the pandemic.
• In Southern Mediterranean Europe arrivals increased 2%, reflecting growing demand for off-season travel to some destinations.
• Central and Eastern Europe rebounded strongly (+8% over 2024), especially Baltic destinations, though visitor numbers in the subregion remain below 2019 levels.
• Africa recorded 9% growth in arrivals in Q1 2025, compared to 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic traveller numbers by 16%.
• The Middle East recorded 1% growth compared to 2024, a more modest increase following the extraordinary performance in recent years. However, arrivals stood 44% above pre-pandemic levels this first quarter of the year.
• Arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew 12%, reaching 92% of pre-pandemic numbers. North-East Asia saw the strongest performance among world subregions with a 23% rebound in Q1 2025 to reach 91% of 2019 levels.

According to IATA, international air travel demand grew 8% in January-March 2025 versus Q1 2024, while international air capacity was up 7%. Global occupancy rates in accommodation establishments reached 64% in March, about the same level as in March 2024 (65%). Industry indicators are available at the UN Tourism Data Dashboard.

Available data on international tourism receipts for Q1 2025 also shows solid growth in visitor spending in many destinations, including +13% in Canada. International tourism receipts, the main component of tourism service exports, grew 11% to US$1.7 trillion, also in real terms (adjusted for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations), while average spending remained at US$1,170 per international trip in 2024, above the pre-pandemic average of US$1,000 (both in constant dollars).

Looking ahead: Headwinds continue to pose significant risks

The latest Panel of Tourism Experts survey points to economic factors including weaker economic growth, high travel costs and the increase in tariffs as the main three challenges that could impact international tourism in 2025.

Uncertainty derived from geopolitical and trade tensions are also weighing on travel confidence. Lower consumer confidence was ranked as the fourth main factor affecting tourism this year, while geopolitical risks (aside from ongoing conflicts) ranked fifth.

According to the survey, tourists will continue to seek value for money, but could also travel closer to home or make shorter trips.

Experts highlighted the uncertainty and unpredictability derived from trade tariffs and its potential impact on travel sentiment; and while one third of survey respondents expect little or no impact from trade tensions on tourism performance, some 25% expect some impact in the near future.

Despite global uncertainty, travel demand is expected to remain resilient. UN Tourism’s January projection of 3% to 5% growth in international arrivals for 2025 remains unchanged.

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