International Tourist Arrivals Rise 2% to 307 Million in Q1 as Middle East Crisis Cuts Forecasts
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Jun 8
International Tourist Arrivals Rise 2% to 307 Million in Q1 as Middle East Crisis Cuts Forecasts
2 articles · Updated · Euronews · Jun 8
Summary
307 million international trips were recorded in Q1 2026, up 2% from a year earlier and about 6 million more than in Q1 2025 despite March disruptions tied to the Middle East crisis.
UN Tourism said the conflict could shave 1 to 2 percentage points off its initial 2026 growth forecast of 3% to 4%, as higher oil prices, jet-fuel shortages and disrupted flights lift fares and curb capacity.
Europe drew more than 130 million visitors, up 4%, while the Middle East saw arrivals fall 14%; Egypt bucked the regional trend with 16% growth.
Paraguay led reported gains at 46%, followed by New Caledonia at 45% and El Salvador at 43%, showing some destinations benefited from redirected travel flows.
64% of tourism experts said the Middle East conflict is hurting demand in their destinations, reinforcing expectations that travelers will favor cheaper options and trips closer to home.