According to a statement from UN Tourism, global visitor arrivals increased by 0.4 percent despite the travel and tourism sector being tested by security concerns in the Middle East, high oil prices and broader inflationary pressures. UN Tourism said an estimated 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2026, with global visitor arrivals increasing by 2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 before declining by 1 percent in the second quarter following a 3 percent drop in April. The organization noted that the decline was influenced by the calendar effect of the Easter holiday period, which began in March, as well as the impact of conflicts in the Middle East.
Sector Withstood Significant Pressures
UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais said in a statement on the report:
“The latest data shows that the sector has withstood significant pressures and found a way to move forward. Tourism continues to grow, but this growth remains fragile. The situation in the Middle East has affected destinations far beyond the region and is a clear reminder that, in such an interconnected world, resilience needs to be built everywhere, not only when a crisis begins.”
Steady Growth In Europe And Africa, Sharp Decline In Middle East
According to the World Tourism Barometer report published by UN Tourism, Europe recorded steady growth of 3 percent, while Africa grew by 4 percent.
Visitor arrivals in Asia and the Pacific increased by 1 percent during the six-month period but remained 11 percent below 2019 levels due to disruptions to air connectivity, high airfares and uncertainty affecting intra-regional demand.
Northeast Asia recorded 3 percent growth in the first half of 2026, while South Asia declined by 5 percent and Southeast Asia by 1 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
The Middle East stood out in the report. Directly affected by the conflicts, the region recorded a 22 percent decline during the period. Although the conflict situation negatively affected international tourism in the Middle East and other regions from early March 2026, disruptions to air traffic gradually eased in May and June following the declaration of a ceasefire. This allowed some air routes to reopen and led to an uneven recovery in consumer confidence.
Growth Expected To Remain At 1-2 Percent
UN Tourism said the increase in travel numbers is expected to remain limited to between 1 and 2 percent by the end of 2026. It emphasized that this would be below the 3-4 percent growth forecast issued by the organization in January 2026.
UN Tourism also said that, amid high prices and uncertainty, international travellers are expected to continue seeking value for money and may prefer to travel to destinations closer to home or within their own countries.
