According to the "World Tourism Barometer" report for November 2025, published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mongolia has officially entered the list of the top 20 countries in the world for the pace of tourism recovery.
The report is published four times a year and includes an analysis of the latest data on tourist destinations (inbound tourism) and source markets (outbound tourism). The barometer also includes a Confidence Index based on a survey of the UN Tourism Experts Group, which assesses the latest indicators and short-term prospects for international tourism.
From January to September 2025, the number of foreign tourists increased by 5%
From January to September 2025, the number of foreign tourists (with overnight stays) increased by 5% compared to the same period in 2024, and by 3% compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
From September to September, the number of international trips exceeded 1.1 billion, which is 50 million more than in the same period of 2024.
These results indicate a stable demand for travel throughout the year, despite high inflation in the tourism sector and uncertainty caused by geopolitical and trade factors.
Growth in the third quarter was 4% compared to 2024, driven by high demand during the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Africa saw a 10% increase in the number of tourists in the first nine months of 2025. In Europe, which is the largest region by the number of foreign tourists, 625 million people visited during this period, which is 4% more than in 2024.
In North and South America, a 2% increase was recorded as of September, with a 3% increase in the first two quarters and a slight decrease of 1% in the third quarter. In the Middle East, the number of arrivals increased by 2% compared to the same period in 2024.
In Asia and the Pacific region, the number of arrivals grew by 8% in the first nine months of 2025, reaching 90% of the pre-pandemic level (-10% compared to January-September 2019), confirming the ongoing recovery of the region.
Brazil (+45% compared to 2024), Vietnam and Egypt (+21% in both cases), as well as Ethiopia and Japan (+18% in both cases) demonstrated the highest growth rates of tourists from January to September 2025.
Data on international tourism revenues show a significant increase in tourist spending in a number of countries up to September 2025, including Japan (+21%), Nicaragua (+19%), Egypt (+18%), as well as Mongolia and Morocco (both +15%).
Among major markets, there is high demand for spending abroad, including the USA (+7% as of August), France (+5%), Germany and Italy (both +4%).
The results up to September align with the forecasts of the World Tourism Barometer, predicting an increase in arrivals of 3-5% in 2025. However, high travel prices and the complex geopolitical situation remain significant risk factors for this growth.
According to the report, in the first nine months of 2025, the number of foreign tourists visiting Mongolia increased by 16% compared to 2024, which is double the average figures for the region.
Compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019, inbound tourism in Mongolia has increased by 44%, allowing the country to rank among the top in the world for recovery speed. This success exceeds regional averages and confirms the effectiveness of government measures to develop and promote tourism.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth reported that these successes were made possible by the policies implemented under the "Visit Mongolia Years" initiative (2023–2028). This initiative includes active promotion of tourism, simplification of visa procedures, and an increase in the number of international flights.
Tatar S. Maydar
source: MiddleAsianNews
