The global tourism market has undergone significant changes in recent years.
Some countries have seen significant increase in international visitor arrivals thanks to infrastructure development and new promotional strategies, while others have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, according to a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Saudi Arabia led the world in international tourist arrivals between 2019 and 2025, with a 67 percent increase.
Morocco came in second with a 53 percent increase, and Egypt third with a 47 percent increase.
Brazil and Colombia also ranked highly among the top five countries, experiencing growth in inbound tourism of 46 percent and 45 percent, respectively.
The OECD attributes these results to significant investments in tourism infrastructure, improved transport networks, and effective international promotion.
Turkey was also among the countries that saw a notable increase in foreign visitors, ranking eleventh and surpassing 2019 figures by 21 percent. Among European destinations, Norway, Serbia, Denmark, Portugal, and Spain also experienced positive growth.
Meanwhile, many popular tourist destinations have seen a significant drop in foreign visitor numbers.
The largest decline was recorded in Israel, where inbound tourists fell by 71 percent.
Significant decreases were also observed in Ireland, Argentina, and Peru, while the US, Italy, and Germany remain below 2019 levels.
