• Tourist arrivals to Africa rose 8% in 2025, the highest global increase.
• The continent welcomed 81 million international tourists during the year.
• Global tourism arrivals rose 4% to 1.52 billion.

Africa recorded an 8% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025 compared with 2024. This was the strongest growth rate worldwide, based on data released on Wednesday, January 21, by UN Tourism, the United Nations agency for the sector.

UN Tourism’s World Tourism Barometer shows that Africa welcomed 81 million international tourists in 2025. North Africa posted particularly strong results, with arrivals up 11%.

Several countries reported double-digit growth in international arrivals. Egypt recorded a 20% increase, followed by Morocco at 14% and Seychelles at 13%. Tourism revenues also rose sharply in several destinations, measured in local currency. Morocco saw receipts increase by 19%, Egypt by 17%, and Mauritius by 10%.

At the global level, the number of international tourists reached 1.52 billion. This represents a 4% increase from 2024, or 60 million additional international arrivals. The figure marks a return to pre-pandemic growth trends, close to the annual average of 5% recorded between 2009 and 2019. Alongside Africa, all other regions recorded higher arrivals than in 2024. Asia-Pacific grew by 6%, Europe by 4%, the Middle East by 3%, and the Americas by 1%.

The stronger pace of global tourism growth was driven by solid demand, strong performance in major source markets, and the continued recovery of Asia-Pacific destinations. Improved air connectivity and visa facilitation measures also supported the rebound. This positive trend in arrivals was accompanied by higher international tourism revenues, which reached $1.9 trillion, up 5% from 2024.

For 2026, UN Tourism expects international tourist arrivals to grow by 3% to 4% compared with 2025. This initial outlook assumes continued recovery in Asia-Pacific, a supportive global economic environment, and no escalation in geopolitical conflicts.

Walid Kéfi