ITB Berlin and IPK International: Stable international travel, holidays dominate, South America with strong growth

Shortly before the start of ITB Berlin from 3 to 5 March 2026, the international travel industry is sending a clear signal: year-on-year, international trips worldwide rose by four per cent in 2025. The latest findings of the World Travel Monitor® by IPK International confirm the continuing upward trend of recent years, and that increases are back in single digits. The strong growth rates in international tourism are approaching pre-pandemic levels again.

Global Travel Growth:
International trips rose 4% in 2025, returning to pre-pandemic stability.

Regional Trends:
- Europe: Outbound travel up 4%, matching global average.
- North America: Slight decline (-1%), though the USA still leads globally in international travel volume.
- Asia: Moderate growth at 5%.
- South America: Strongest growth worldwide at +11%, driven by intracontinental travel.

Destination Satisfaction:
- Top performers: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahamas, Brazil.
- Europe leaders: Switzerland and Austria, praised for landscapes and nature.
- Sustainability concerns: Dubai and Abu Dhabi scored lowest in this area.

Travel Segments:
- Holidays dominate: ~75% of trips.
- Sun & beach holidays remain most popular (Spain leads).
- Round trips and nature breaks grew above average.
- Business travel rebounded (+6%), with MICE travel especially strong (+8%).

Spending & Duration:
- Average trip length: ~9 nights.
- Spending per trip up 5%, mostly on accommodation.
- Rail travel showed notable growth.

Outlook for 2026:
- Demand expected to remain stable, with growth rates aligning to pre-pandemic levels.
- Challenges: overtourism and sustainability.
- Expansion: ITB Americas debuts in Guadalajara, Mexico (Nov 2026).
- ITB Berlin Convention 2026 (March 3–5) will focus on balancing growth, innovation, and sustainability, featuring major players like Airbnb, Expedia, Google, Booking.com, and Microsoft.