World tourism hits records: Europe welcomed 125 million guests in 3 months

In the first quarter of 2025, over 300 million tourists traveled around the world, which is 14 million more than last year. Europe welcomed 125 million tourists, which is 2% more than last year and 5% more than before the pandemic. This data is provided by Euronews based on a study by the World Tourism Organization of the UN.

In the Mediterranean, the number of tourists increased by 2%. In Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Baltic states, the growth reached 8%. Among the leaders in visitor growth are Lithuania (+21%), Malta (19%), Latvia (16%), Finland (+15%), and Spain (+6%). However, countries like Luxembourg, Ireland, Sweden, and Belgium recorded fewer visitors compared to 2019.

Spain, which ranks second in tourism revenue, noted a 9% growth in tourist spending at the beginning of 2025. Greece, Italy, and Portugal also showed a 4% increase in tourism income. France increased international tourism revenue by 6%, while Denmark saw an 11% increase in the first quarter of 2025.

Since 2010, housing prices in the EU have risen by an average of over 50%, and rental prices have increased by 26%. Spain has been particularly hard-hit: over the last decade, rental prices have increased by 80%.

With the increase in the number of tourists in Europe and rising tourism revenues, a positive trend in the recovery of the industry after the pandemic can be observed. Countries are again becoming popular holiday destinations, but there are issues with rising housing prices, which are especially felt in Spain.