Asia Pacific tourism is continuing to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), international visitor numbers reached 96.3% of their
2019 levels during the early months of 2026.

PATA shared these findings in its Annual Tourism Monitor 2026. The report showed that 239
million international visitors travelled across 44 destinations during the reporting period. This
was a 2.9% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

In 2025 the region welcomed 700.2 million international visitors across 46 destinations. This
number reached 99.3% of the total recorded in 2019 before the pandemic affected global travel.
Asia remained the region’s largest tourism market. It welcomed 523.1 million visitors and
accounted for 74.7% of all arrivals. The Pacific reached 89.4% of its 2019 visitor numbers while
the Americas recovered to 94.2%.

The report also showed that tourism performance differed between destinations. The United
States recorded the highest visitor numbers among the destinations covered. Hong Kong SAR
and Macao were also among the leading destinations alongside China Türkiye and Mexico.
South Korea and Vietnam experienced strong growth during the reporting period. South Korea
welcomed 10.7 million international visitors which was a 21.4% increase from the previous year.
Vietnam received 12.3 million visitors and recorded growth of 14.9%.

However some destinations experienced a decline in arrivals. The United States received 27
million visitors while Thailand welcomed 15.9 million. Their visitor numbers fell by 1% and 4.9%
respectively compared with the previous year.

PATA Chief Executive Officer Noor Ahmad Hamid said the tourism industry’s recovery was an
important achievement. He warned that conflicts and natural disasters could create further
challenges for travel businesses and destinations.

The report also highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism and better transport
connections. Easier visa procedures and affordable travel options could help attract more
international visitors.

PATA encouraged destinations to welcome visitors from different countries and promote longer
stays. The report said future tourism success should also consider benefits for local
communities and businesses rather than focusing only on visitor numbers
.
Source: Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Annual Tourism Monitor 2026.

Razia khan