International Tourism Grows 5% in First Half of 2025

Global tourism showed resilience in the first half of 2025, with international arrivals up 5% compared to the same period in 2024, according to UN tourism reports. This growth underscores the sector’s continued recovery and strong underlying demand.

Some regions performed particularly well: South America grew by an estimated 14%, while Europe and Africa also saw solid gains. Central America and the Caribbean, however, showed more modest growth, partly due to reduced demand from their traditional North American source markets.

Still, the total volume of arrivals was about 4% above pre-pandemic levels, indicating that tourism is not just back, but exceeding expectations in many markets. The rebound is supported by pent-up demand, eased travel restrictions, and increased air connectivity.

That said, rising costs—especially for fuel, lodging, and labor—are creating headwinds. Travelers are becoming more cost conscious, and destinations face the challenge of maintaining service quality under inflationary pressures.

Looking ahead, tourism experts emphasize that continued growth will depend on balancing accessibility with sustainability: managing environmental impacts, supporting local communities, and investing in resilient infrastructure.

The mid-year results provide a cautiously optimistic baseline heading into the second half of 2025, with momentum but also new challenges on the horizon.