Tourists. Photo: Shutterstock Just a few days before the grand opening of the ITB Berlin tourism fair, which will take place from March 3 to 5, 2026, IPK International has published the latest data from the World Travel Monitor study. The numbers show a 4% increase in international trips worldwide in 2025, compared to the previous year.
This continues the positive trend noticed in recent years, with growth rates once again approaching pre-COVID-19 levels.
The study showed notable differences across regions. For example, departures from Europe went up by 4%, in line with the global average. North America saw a slight decrease of 1% in the number of trips, but the US remained the country with the highest volume of international travel in the world, ahead of Germany and the UK.
Photo: SHUTTERSTOCKAsia recorded a moderate increase of 5%, slightly above the global average. The most dynamic market was South America, with 11% growth in outbound travel, mainly due to a significant increase in travel within the continent.
The Destination Performance Index measured levels of satisfaction, recommendation, and intention to return to the destination. In 2025, Dubai ranked first, ahead of Abu Dhabi and Brazil.
In Dubai, service, accommodation, and weather received the highest ratings. Sustainability received the lowest ratings in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In Europe, Switzerland led the rankings, slightly ahead of Austria, with both receiving particularly high scores for scenery and nature.
As a reminder, France continues to be the most visited country in the world, according to official state figures indicating 102 million visitors and €77.5 billion in revenue in 2025.
Three-quarters of international travel in 2025 was for leisure purposes, up 4%. Business travel grew by 6%, returning to 2019 levels for the first time. The MICE sector stood out in particular, with an 8% increase.
The average length of stay on international trips increased slightly to about 9 nights, and the average cost per trip increased by 5% compared to 2024, with most of the increase recorded in accommodation expenses. On average, about a quarter of the budget was allocated to transportation, while spending on food and activities at the destination was lower.
Next week: PassportNews will provide special, extensive coverage of the ITB Berlin 2026 tourism fair.
Data: ITB