#Global Tourism continued to recover in early 2025, with international arrivals increasing by 5% year-on-year in the first quarter, according to the World Tourism Barometer in May 2025. Africa recorded a 9% growth rate of arrivals during this period, exceeding 16% of pre-pandemic numbers. Continental performance outperforms Europe (+2%), the US (+2%) and the Middle East (+1%), positioning Africa as one of the major growth regions as tourism demand continues to recover.
Over 300 million international overnight travelers were recorded worldwide between January and March 2025. This is an increase of 14 million people compared to the same period last year. Despite ongoing pressures such as high inflation, geopolitical instability and trade tensions, demand remains resilient. International air travel increased 8% compared to the first quarter of 2024, with global occupancy stabilising at 64% in March. UN tourism highlights the sector's continued contribution to employment and economic recovery across the region, and a strong start in Africa is reinforcing its growing role in global tourism trends.
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Source: United Nations Tourism
