Global Tourism Grows 0.4% in First Half as 2026 Forecasts Decline

The number of international arrivals rose 0.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, according to data from the UN World Tourism Organization. This limited growth comes after a strong year for the sector, prompting the organization to revise its full-year expectations.

In 2025, the organization recorded nearly 1.544 billion international arrivals, a 5% increase over the previous year, while international tourism receipts reached $1.9 trillion, up 4%. These figures reflect a broad recovery for the sector after years of volatility linked to the pandemic and economic conditions.

The organization lowered its forecast for international arrivals growth in 2026 to between 1% and 2%, down from a previous expectation of 3% to 4%. This revision indicates that the pace of recovery is slowing, and that the sector may need more time to return to the high growth levels recorded in earlier stages.

This slowdown indicates that traveler spending did not necessarily keep pace with the growth in visitor numbers, as revenues grew at a lower rate than arrivals in 2025. The sector is now monitoring factors such as travel costs, fuel prices, and demand from major markets, with nearby and affordable destinations expected to remain more attractive to travelers in the coming months.

What do these terms mean?

International arrivals: The number of visitors who cross their country's border into another state and stay for a limited period; this figure is used as an indicator of tourism activity volume.

International tourism receipts: The amounts spent by international travelers in the destination country on accommodation, food, transportation, and activities, excluding international transport costs.

Growth forecasts: Estimates issued by specialized organizations for the rate of increase in a specific indicator in the future, adjusted whenever new data emerges or conditions change.