Zimbabwe boosts tourist arrivals by 11% in strong start to 2026

BRICS countries continue to expand cooperation in tourism, transport, and sustainable development.

Indonesia’s tourism sector showed strong momentum in March 2026, with foreign arrivals reaching 1.09 million and total international visits for the first quarter rising to 3.44 million, an 8.62 per cent year-on-year increase, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Malaysian nationals remained the leading source market, while the overall performance marked the highest first-quarter level since 2020 and supports the country’s target of up to 17.6 million international visitors in 2026. ANTARA reports that domestic tourism also expanded significantly, reaching 319.51 million trips, up 13.14 per cent year-on-year, with notable growth across rail, ferry, air, and sea transport, alongside an 8.14 per cent increase in international air travel.

Across BRICS+ countries, steady growth in tourism activity is being recorded, supported by expanding travel connectivity, rising international mobility and increasing interest in diverse cultural and nature-based destinations.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan national parks attracted around 2 million visits in the first seven months of 2025, while international arrivals exceeded 12.2 million in the first nine months. Growing demand for eco-tourism and improved accessibility are further strengthening the country’s position as a destination for nature and adventure travel, reports Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS.

Thailand’s tourism sector welcomed over 9.31 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, with China remaining the leading source market at 1.49 million arrivals, followed by Malaysia and Russia with 960,000 and 726,000 visitors, respectively, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. As reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS, the Tourism Authority of Thailand noted that the industry continues to play a key role in the national economy. Looking ahead, foreign tourist arrivals for 2026 are projected at between 30 and 34 million.

For its part, Vietnam welcomed 2.03 million international visitors in April, bringing total arrivals for the first four months of 2026 to 8.8 million, a 14.6 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT). China remained the leading source market, while Russia and India showed strong growth, with Russia up nearly 300 per cent year-on-year. VNAT highlighted Vietnam’s rising appeal as a safe and diverse destination, supported by improved connectivity, visa facilitation, and growing demand for ecotourism and experiential travel, as reported by Vietnam News Agency (VNA), a partner of TV BRICS.