Africa: Tourism rises sharply as global travel breaks records
Africa’s tourism rose sharply in 2025, helping push global travel to a new record despite rising costs and growing political tensions, as reported by Africa News via United Nations Tourism on January 21st.
International tourist arrivals to Africa increased by 8% in 2025 to 81 million visitors, the UN body said in its first World Tourism Barometer of the year. Several major destinations on the continent posted strong growth, led by Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and South Africa.
According to the report, Morocco recorded a 14% rise in visitors last year, while its tourism export revenues climbed by 19%. Egypt saw international arrivals increase by 20%, and South Africa posted a 19% rise.
The rebound in Africa came as global tourism continued to recover after the pandemic. Across the world, international tourist arrivals reached 1.52 billion in 2025, up 4% from the previous year and the highest level ever recorded.
Europe remained the world’s most visited region, attracting nearly 800 million international arrivals in 2025, a 4% increase year-on-year. Asia and the Pacific region recorded a 6% increase in international arrivals, reaching 331 million visitors. This brought the region to about 91% of its pre-pandemic tourism levels.
UN Tourism said the growth in travel was supported by more international flights, easier visa rules in many countries and strong demand from key travel markets. Global tourism receipts reached $1.9 trillion in 2025, up 5% from the previous year.
UN Tourism Secretary General Shaikha Alnuwais said, “Demand for travel remained high throughout 2025, despite high inflation in tourism services and uncertainty from geopolitical tensions.” She added that the positive trend is expected to continue into 2026 as the global economy stays steady and destinations that are still lagging are expected to recover further.
The rise in global travel has also led to growing pressure on popular destinations. Cities and countries have begun introducing measures to manage crowds, including entry fees and visitor caps, due to concerns regarding the increase in tourism.
Moreover, UN Tourism warned that while major events such as the Winter Olympics in Italy and the football World Cup in North America could boost travel next year, conflicts and political tensions remain key risks for the sector.
Africa News, Maghrebi.org
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