(Posted 05th October 2026)
Africa’s tourism sector continues to show strong momentum.
According to the latest UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals to #Africa increased by 4% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. This made Africa the strongest-performing major tourism region during the period.
The figure stands out against a more subdued global picture: around 690 million international tourists travelled between January and June 2026; just 3 million more than in the first half of 2025, equivalent to 0.4% growth. After a stronger first quarter, global arrivals declined by 1% in Q2 and by 3% in June.
The latest figures also highlight how closely tourism is connected to wider global developments. Geopolitical tensions, disruptions to air connectivity, higher travel costs and extreme weather events have affected travel demand in different regions.
Against this backdrop, Africa’s 4% growth is an important indicator of continued demand for the continent’s destinations.
At the same time, the figures underline that growth should not be viewed in isolation. Tourism markets remain sensitive to connectivity, affordability, consumer confidence and global events. UN Tourism has consequently revised its forecast for global international arrivals in 2026 to +1% to +2%, down from its previous forecast of +3% to +4%.
For Africa, the latest data provides another indication of the continent’s growing role in international tourism and of the importance of continuing to strengthen destinations, connectivity and locally rooted tourism offers.
The global tourism landscape is changing. Africa is part of that change.
Find full UN report here: https://lnkd.in/d7P6mMPF
