International Overnight Stays Outpace Domestic Growth

International travel is pulling ahead of domestic tourism, according to a recent Tourism Economics report. In 2025, global overnight stays by international visitors were projected to grow by 5.1%, which is comfortably ahead of the 1.4% increase expected on the domestic side. That gap is set to widen in 2026, with international overnight stays forecast to surge 9.0% - more than three times the 2.7% growth projected for domestic travel. The numbers suggest that cross-border travel demand is not only recovering but accelerating, while domestic tourism - though still growing - is doing so at a more modest pace. For the travel and hospitality industry, this indicates that there is opportunity in capturing international visitors, as consumers around the world show an increasing appetite for trips beyond their own borders.