The countries that have gained the most tourists since 2019, revealed

North Africa and the Middle East dominate the list

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Saudi Arabia has seen the biggest uptick in tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report.

Data from the economics organisation OECD has revealed the places that have received an increase in inbound visitors between 2019 and 2025.

The OECD has collected trends from its member states and partner countries to make a list of 53 countries, comparing international tourist arrivals between the two dates.

In 2025, Saudi Arabia had the largest change in arrivals from 2019, with a 67 per cent increase, making it the fastest-growing tourism destination in the world with 29 million visitors last year.

This is followed by Morocco, with a growth of 53 per cent and Egypt at 47 per cent, showcasing that the Middle East and North African region is increasing in popularity among travellers.

Israel was the worst-performing country in 2025, receiving 1.3 million visitors compared to 4.5 million six years prior – representing a 71 per cent decrease.

Also at the bottom of the table is Ireland, with a 32 per cent decrease in tourists, and Argentina, which is down 23 per cent.

In all 53 countries studied, there has been a four per cent increase in tourists in 2025 compared to pre-pandemic levels, at 1.5 billion.

The United Kingdom has also recovered from the pandemic slump, having welcomed an estimated 43.6 million inbound visitors in 2025, although due to current changes to the Office for National Statistics’ methodology, this number remains a prediction.

Compared to the OECD statistic for the UK’s 2019 tourism numbers of 39 million, however, this number indicates that the country has seen a growth in tourists.

According to OECD data

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