Global tourism spending led by Europe as North America declines

Global international visitor spending reached significant levels in 2025, with Europe leading the market at US$ 835 billion, accounting for over 40% of all recorded international spending. The Asia-Pacific region followed with US$ 573 billion, representing an 8.3% increase from 2024, though it remains only 1% above 2019 levels.

In contrast, North America was the only region to record a decline, with spending falling 3.3% from 2024 to US$ 235 billion. While Mexico saw record visitor numbers and Canada experienced a 17.5% increase in spending, the United States saw a 5% to 6% drop in both arrivals and spending, attributed to visa delays, travel restrictions, and stricter immigration rules.

The Middle East showed the highest growth compared to 2019 levels at 26.8%, driven by Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The Caribbean also demonstrated strong post-pandemic recovery with a 21.5% increase in spending since 2019.