International Tourism Growth Slows in the First Half of 2026


Après un début d’année dynamique, le tourisme international a marqué le pas au printemps. ONU Tourisme recense 690 millions d’arrivées sur les six premiers mois de 2026, soit seulement 0,4% de plus qu’un an auparavant - DepositPhotos.com, @sdecoret

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Publié en septembre 2026, le dernier World Tourism Barometer d’ONU Tourisme dresse le bilan de l’activité touristique internationale sur les six premiers mois de l’année.

Le rapport analyse le nombre d’arrivées de touristes internationaux dans les différentes régions du monde afin de suivre l’évolution des flux touristiques.

Sur cette période, 690 millions d’arrivées ont été enregistrées, soit une hausse de 0,4% par rapport au premier semestre 2025.

Cette progression reste toutefois très limitée. Après un premier trimestre en hausse de 2%, les arrivées internationales ont reculé de 1% au deuxième trimestre.


The second quarter marks a turning point

Between January and March, international arrivals had increased, then the trend reversed.

And the month of June confirms this slowdown, with a global drop of 3% in international arrivals. April had already recorded a decline of 3%.

UNWTO highlights notably the effect of the Easter holiday calendar, which began in March this year, as well as the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

In total, the 690 million arrivals recorded between January and June represent only 3 million more than in the first half of 2025.


Europe: between growth and pressure

Not all regions are following the same trajectory.

Over the first six months, Europe records +3%, the Americas +2% and Africa +4%.

Western Europe, however, experiences a much tougher June, with a 6% drop in international arrivals. UNWTO notes episodes of extreme heat recorded in several destinations.

Asian markets also show different evolutions depending on sub-regions. North-East Asia climbs by 3%, while South Asia falls by 5% and South-East Asia by 1%.

The Asia-Pacific region continues to struggle to reach its 2019 level. International arrivals rise by only 1% in the first half.

In June, the decline reaches notably 5% in South-East Asia, linked to weaker demand on some Asian markets and disruptions to air links via the Middle East.


The Middle East remains in decline

Because of the conflict, the situation is much more pronounced in the Middle East.

International arrivals there fell by 22% in the first half.

The war that broke out in the region in early March directly affected tourist flows, but also international air transport.

Some routes were disrupted or suspended, with knock-on effects beyond the countries concerned. The air situation gradually improved in May and June, with the reopening of some routes after the announcement of a ceasefire.


Travelers remain price-conscious

Beyond the geopolitical context, the cost of travel remains a key factor for demand.

High oil prices are notably fueling transport costs, while inflationary pressures continue to weigh on vacation budgets.

June Heatwave Slows Tourism in Occitanie


La canicule de juin ralentit la fréquentation touristique en Occitanie, Depositphotos.com

Costa Rica


The intense heat modifies vacationers’ habits and impacts the sector’s economic activity.

The monthly survey conducted by the ADT/CDT and the AD’OCC agency highlights a broad drop in activity across all sectors and destinations, showing a decline of 16 points compared to June 2025.

In the face of high temperatures, professionals report outdoor events cancellations as well as stays being postponed.

This trend is accompanied by broader conjunctural difficulties. A rural-area campground operator testifies to the direct consequences on bookings: The heatwave strongly affected activity this June and the announcement of a new heatwave in the coming days is leading to cancellations for July.

On the coast, the assessment remains similar for leisure providers, who face a very difficult conjuncture, with many group cancellations due to fuel prices and also the heatwave.


A convergence of economic and structural factors redefining stays

The overall downturn in activity can be explained by the combination of weather, rising fuel prices, and the decline in purchasing power of French households.

Added to these elements are scheduling constraints, notably the absence of public holidays in June 2026 (long weekends concentrated in May) and the dates of school holidays in Germany, the region’s main international clientele.

These combined parameters foster a change in consumer behavior, who trend toward shorter stays and last-minute bookings. Nevertheless, the global analysis for May and June shows tourist attendance remaining stable at the regional level.

On rental platforms, the volumes of nights booked by July 9 show a 7 % decrease for July and 6 % for August compared to last year. Despite this overall decline, certain geographic areas show positive prospects for August, notably the city of Toulouse and the Pyrenees.

On the coastal side, commercial accommodations foresee a gradual stabilization after a July with a slight decline (-2.1 percentage points in occupancy rate), with an August forecast at -1.2 points thanks to end-of-month reservations higher than those of 2025.