Europe’s tourist arrivals forecast to rise 5 per cent in 2026
A World Travel Market report expects Europe to benefit from a shift towards shorter journeys, while global arrivals are projected to grow by 2 per cent.
Europe is expected to see international overnight arrivals grow by 5 per cent in 2026, outpacing the worldwide increase as travellers favour destinations nearer home, according to the WTM Global Travel Report 2026. The global total is forecast at a record 1.57 billion.
Tourism Economics, part of Oxford Economics, produced the report using information from more than 185 countries. It was presented at the opening of World Travel Market at London’s ExCeL.
The forecasts point to a 3 per cent increase in journeys within travellers’ own regions during 2026, against a 3 per cent fall in trips between regions. The report links pressure on longer journeys to higher fares, safety concerns and reduced capacity through Gulf aviation hubs.
Europe is forecast to retain its position as the biggest destination region for international leisure nights, with a 4 per cent increase. Leisure spending by domestic and international visitors in Europe is projected at US$2.05 trillion in 2026. Spending by international visitors is expected to grow by 11 per cent, compared with 8 per cent for domestic visitors; those figures are nominal and do not account for inflation.
For 2027, the report projects worldwide arrivals growth of 8 per cent and a further 5 per cent increase for Europe. It warns that persistent geopolitical tensions or renewed conflict could postpone the recovery.
By 2032, Europe is forecast to receive 226 million more arrivals annually than in 2026, the largest absolute gain projected for any region.
