Tourism arrivals rise globally and in Europe despite geopolitical tensions

International tourism continued to grow in 2025‑2026 despite geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The European Travel Commission reported a 5 % year‑to‑date increase in international arrivals to Europe in the first half of 2026, with overnight stays up 4.8 %. Greece saw the strongest performance with a 38 % jump in visitors and a 64 % rise in tourism receipts, while Italy recorded a 21 % rise in arrivals. Northern Europe posted a 10 % increase in arrivals and an 8.4 % rise in overnight stays.

The OECD’s Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report recorded a record 847 million international arrivals across member countries in 2025, a 3.4 % increase over the previous year. Finland (16.5 %), Japan (15.8 %), South Korea (15.7 %) and Norway (12.5 %) were the fastest‑growing markets, whereas Canada, Germany, Ireland and the United States saw modest declines. Israel’s inbound tourism fell 70.8 % amid ongoing Middle‑East conflict, which the reports say continues to disrupt air routes and traveler confidence worldwide.