International Tourism Grows 0.4% in H1 2026 Despite Rising Costs and Conflict, ETTravelWorld

International tourism grew 0.4 per cent in the first half of 2026, with around 690 million tourists travelling internationally between January and June, according to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism. The figure was around 3 million higher than in the same period last year.Global international arrivals rose 2 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 but declined 1 per cent in the second quarter. Arrivals fell 3 per cent in April, partly due to the Easter holiday period beginning in March and the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. Global arrivals declined a further 3 per cent in June.The June decline included a 6 per cent fall in Western Europe, partly attributed to a heatwave in some destinations. South-East Asia recorded 5 per cent fewer arrivals during the month, with weaker demand from Asian markets, geopolitical tensions, air travel disruptions through the Middle East and higher travel costs contributing to the decline. Some destinations in Oceania also saw arrivals fall 6 per cent in June, partly due to Typhoon Sinlaku during the second quarter.UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais said: “The latest data shows a sector absorbing real pressure and finding a way forward. Tourism has not stopped growing, but that growth is fragile. The Middle East situation has touched destinations far beyond the region itself and serves as a clear reminder that, in such a connected world, resilience needs to be built everywhere and not just when a crisis begins.”Regional performance was mixed during the first half. Africa recorded 4 per cent growth in international arrivals, followed by Europe at 3 per cent . The Americas saw arrivals increase 2 per cent , although performance varied across its sub-regions.Asia and the Pacific recorded 1 per cent growth compared with the first half of 2025 but remained 11 per cent below 2019 levels. UN Tourism attributed the continued gap to disruptions to air connectivity, higher air fares and uncertainty affecting intra-regional demand.Within the region, North-East Asia recorded 3 per cent growth, while South Asia and South-East Asia saw declines of 5 per cent and 1 per cent , respectively. The Middle East recorded the sharpest regional decline, with international arrivals falling 22 per cent during the six-month period as the conflict directly affected tourism activity.The conflict has disrupted international tourism in the Middle East and other regions since early March. Air traffic disruptions gradually eased in May and June following the announcement of a ceasefire, leading to the reopening of some air routes and an uneven recovery in consumer sentiment.Against this backdrop, UN Tourism now expects international tourist arrivals to grow 1 per cent -2 per cent globally in 2026, compared with its January forecast of 3 per cent -4 per cent . The revised outlook remains dependent on the duration of the conflict and its impact on oil prices and inflation.UN Tourism also expects travellers to continue seeking value for money, with elevated costs and uncertainty potentially encouraging greater demand for destinations closer to home and domestic travel.