International tourism continued its strong recovery last year, reaching an all-time high worldwide, with Africa recording notable growth. Visitor arrivals to the continent increased by 8 percent, reaching 81 million travelers, reflecting renewed confidence in African destinations and improved connectivity.
The upward trend highlights Africa’s growing role in the global travel market, even as traditional tourism regions continue to dominate overall volumes.
Strong Performance Across Key African Destinations
Several major African destinations reported double-digit growth in visitor numbers. Morocco experienced a significant rise in arrivals, accompanied by a sharp increase in tourism-related export revenues. Egypt and South Africa also posted robust gains, benefiting from expanded air routes and strong demand from international markets.
Tunisia joined these countries in reporting solid results, reinforcing North Africa’s position as a key driver of the continent’s tourism recovery.
Global Tourism Hits Historic High
Worldwide, international tourist arrivals climbed to 1.52 billion, marking a new record and a 4 percent increase compared to the previous year. Europe remained the most visited region, welcoming nearly 800 million travelers, while several major European destinations recorded higher tourism revenues.
Asia and the Pacific also continued their recovery, with arrivals rising to more than 330 million, approaching pre-pandemic levels as travel restrictions eased and flight capacity expanded.
Challenges, Risks, and Future Outlook
Despite strong demand, the tourism sector faces ongoing challenges. High inflation in travel services and geopolitical tensions have created uncertainty in some markets. North America saw a decline in arrivals, largely due to weaker performance in the United States, which affected regional totals.
At the same time, rising visitor numbers have triggered concerns over overcrowding in popular destinations, prompting authorities in several countries to introduce entry fees, visitor caps, and access controls at major attractions.
Looking ahead, global tourism bodies expect growth to continue into the coming year, supported by major international sporting events and a stable economic outlook. However, they caution that ongoing conflicts and political tensions remain key risks to sustained expansion in the travel industry.
