Why the World travels: A journey across seven tourism regions

by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG – GLOBAL tourism is entering another powerful era.

The United Nations (UN) Tourism reports that international arrivals reached an estimated 1.52 billion in 2025, four per cent higher than in 2024, underlining travel’s growing importance to economies, communities and cultures.

Europe remained the world’s largest destination region, while Africa recorded particularly strong growth.

In Africa, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania attract visitors with remarkably diverse experiences.

Tourists come to see Cape Town and Table Mountain, Morocco’s historic medinas, Egypt’s pyramids and Nile Valley, and East Africa’s spectacular wildlife.

Kenya and Tanzania offer unforgettable safaris, the Great Migration and encounters with elephants, lions and other iconic animals.

Africa’s appeal lies in its combination of wildlife, landscapes, history and living cultures.

Asia offers extraordinary contrasts.

Japan attracts visitors with ancient temples, modern Tokyo and distinctive cuisine; Thailand combines tropical beaches, islands, Buddhist heritage and vibrant cities; China offers the Great Wall, historic cities and immense cultural depth; while India brings together the Taj Mahal, colourful festivals, spiritual traditions and extraordinary culinary experiences.

Europe remains the world’s tourism powerhouse.

France draws visitors to Paris, the Riviera, countryside and mountains, while Spain offers Barcelona, historic cities, Mediterranean beaches and the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Italy’s Rome, Venice, Florence, art, architecture and cuisine make it a perennial favourite.

Europe received about 794 million international tourists in 2025, more than half of the global total.

As Europe experiences a surge in tourism, major hotel groups such as Wyndham, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Hyatt are shifting focus from overcrowded coastal areas to less saturated inland towns and rural destinations.

Driven by social media and advanced search tools, travellers are increasingly exploring lesser-known locations. In 2025, Europe attracted 794 million international tourists, representing over half of global tourism.

Tourist numbers in Spain and Italy increased notably in early 2026, contributing to mounting local dissatisfaction, especially in hotspots like Mallorca, where locals protested against overtourism’s impact on housing and the environment.

Despite challenges such as wildfires and geopolitical issues, particularly in the Middle East, tourism remains strong, with United States (US) travellers making 23.3 million trips to Europe in 2025 and projected growth of 5.1% in 2026.

Hotel groups are also capitalizing on partnerships with independent hotels to attract high-spending international visitors.

Europe’s safety appeal during ongoing global conflicts further supports this trend.

In North America, the United States offers enormous variety, from New York and California to national parks such as the Grand Canyon.

Mexico combines beaches, ancient Maya and Aztec heritage, colourful traditions and exceptional cuisine.

South America attracts travellers seeking adventure and nature.

Brazil’s Amazon, Rio de Janeiro and Carnival provide spectacular experiences, while Peru’s Machu Picchu offers one of the world’s most memorable archaeological journeys.

Argentina adds Buenos Aires, Patagonia and world-renowned food and wine.

Down under, Australia combines Sydney’s harbour, the Great Barrier Reef, Aboriginal heritage and vast outback landscapes.

Across Oceania, New Zealand captivates visitors with dramatic mountains, fjords, Māori culture and outdoor adventure, while Pacific island nations offer extraordinary beaches and marine environments.

What makes these journeys memorable is not simply scenery. It is the combination of people, food, history, nature and stories encountered along the way.

Yet tourism’s success carries responsibilities. Overtourism can strain housing, infrastructure and ecosystems; Spain, for example, has experienced growing concern over accommodation pressures in popular destinations.

In 2025, Spain achieved a new tourism milestone, welcoming a record 96.8 million international visitors, a 3.2% increase from 94 million in 2024, according to the National Statistics Institute.

This surge boosted tourism revenue by 6.8%, reaching €134.7 billion ($158.9 billion), supporting the sector that comprises 12.6% of Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The Ministry of Tourism credited the growth to a shift toward a more sustainable and quality-focused tourism model.

Catalonia, home to Barcelona, led with 20.1 million visitors, followed by the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

The majority of tourists came from the United Kingdom (UK) (19 million), France (12.7 million), and Germany (12 million).

This marked Spain’s third record year since the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.

Globally, tourism rebounded with 1.52 billion international travelers in 2025, up by nearly 60 million from the previous year.

However, the influx of tourists also brought challenges, including housing affordability and tensions over short-term rentals in city centers, as locals expressed concerns about being priced out due to mass tourism.

The future of hospitality therefore depends on sustainable tourism: welcoming visitors while protecting the very cultures, communities and environments they travel to experience.

– CAJ News