The New Hotspots: Qatar +137%, Albania +80%

Measured against pre-pandemic 2019, UN Tourism's fastest risers are Qatar (+137%), El Salvador (+81%), Albania (+80%) and Saudi Arabia (+69%) — not the old European giants.

The top 3

  1. Albania Doubled in Five Years: The Adriatic's budget riviera jumped from about 5 million arrivals in 2019 to over 10 million in 2024 — +80% growth that outpaced Spain, Japan and every major European destination.
  2. Saudi Arabia's 30-Million Breakout: Saudi Arabia drew roughly 30 million international visitors in 2024, up from about 18 million in 2019 (+69%), powering the Middle East to 32% above pre-pandemic levels — the world's strongest region.
  3. Japan's Weak-Yen Gold Rush: Japan smashed its record with 42.7 million visitors in 2025 — up 15.8% and past 40 million for the first time — as foreign travelers spent a record 9.5 trillion yen; the 2030 target is 60 million.

Sources

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