Global tourism forecast to increase 5% in 2025, Vietnam is a bright spot

With just over 2 months left in 2025, the United Nations Tourism Organization expects global tourism to increase by 5%, with Vietnam being a bright spot - Photo: QUANG DINH

Recently, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reported on the tourism situation in September 2025, including analysis of the international tourist market and global tourism.

With the UNWTO's Panel of Travel Experts' Confidence Index at 120 for the September-December period (up from 114 for the previous period), global tourism growth is forecast at 3-5% for the full year 2025.

Globally, there will be 690 million tourist arrivals in the first half of 2025

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, international tourism continued to record positive growth in the first 6 months of 2025. The agency cited information from the United Nations Tourism Organization, with nearly 690 million international visitors globally, up 5% over the same period in 2024, and 4% higher than before the pandemic.

"This is a positive signal, reflecting that tourism demand remains strong, contributing to economic growth and employment," the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism assessed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili - Secretary General of the United Nations Tourism Organization - also emphasized that the increase in visitors and revenue in the first half of 2025 globally shows the great resilience of the industry, and set a goal to maintain sustainable growth momentum.

In 2024, global international tourism revenue is expected to reach a record $1,734 billion, 14% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Concerns about rising transportation and accommodation costs

According to the United Nations Tourism Organization, in the first half of 2025, many destinations achieved impressive growth in international tourism revenue such as: Japan increased by 18%, UK increased by 13%, France increased by 9%, Spain and Turkey increased by 8%...

Major markets with strong growth in overseas tourism spending include: China up 16%, Spain up 16%, UK up 15%, Singapore up 10% and South Korea up 8%.

Growth results are positive, but according to the United Nations Tourism Organization, the global tourism industry still faces many difficulties and challenges.

UN Tourism points out that rising transport and accommodation costs are making tourists more likely to travel nearby, stay shorter or spend less. In addition, other factors such as economic and geopolitical instability that undermine tourist confidence also pose challenges to tourism growth.

While the tourism industry in Asia- Pacific is still recovering, Vietnam is expected to be the fastest growing destination in the world in the first half of 2025, up 21% year-on-year.

In the first 9 months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed 15.4 million international visitors, an increase of 21.5% over the same period in 2024. Vietnam tourism expects that in the remaining months of 2025, it will continue to grow rapidly, the tourism industry will complete the 2025 target, Vietnam will welcome about 25 million international visitors.

Aviation and accommodation grow strongly

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in the air transport sector, both international passenger traffic (RPKs) and air cargo capacity (ASKs) in the first half of 2025 will increase by 7% compared to the same period in 2024.

Global hotel occupancy remains high, with occupancy reaching 69% in June 2025, and 71% in the following month.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-lich-toan-cau-du-bao-tang-5-trong-nam-2025-viet-nam-la-diem-sang-20251008141357376.htm#content